Welcome to the new IMPACT online exhibition, a project exploring the internet as a venue for insightful photographic work. In an effort to remind viewers of the important role photographers play around the world, we invited an array of imagemakers to share galleries on their blogs (like this one) that comprise 12 images representing an experience when they had an impact on or were impacted. By clicking on the links below the IMPACT logo, you can move through the exhibition, viewing other galleries by different photographers. You can also click the IMPACT logo to be taken to a post on the liveBooks RESOLVE Blog where you can see an index of all participating photographers. We hope that by linking different photographic visions of our first topic, “Outside Looking In,” we can provide a multifaceted view of the topic as well as the IMPACT individuals can have on the world around us.
Scientists estimate that worldwide up to 73 million sharks are killed every year and as a result 50 species are listed as vulnerable or in danger of extinction. Vast fishing fleets comb our oceans catching sharks primarily for their fins, a sought after commodity used in shark fin soup. One of the greatest challenges in marine conservation today is to instill in people a sense of wonder in the ocean that will not only awaken a feeling of ownership but also foster responsibility towards its inhabitants, especially sharks.
The legendary conservationist George Schaller wrote: ‘Pen and Camera are weapons against oblivion, they can create awareness for that which may soon be lost forever’. As Chief Photographer of the Save our Seas Foundation I spend an average 8 months a year on assignment documenting shark conservation projects all over the world. Schaller’s words are my mantra and especially in times when all hope seems lost they inspire me never to give up. Photographs are one of the most powerful weapons in the marine conservation arsenal and it has become my life’s work to create images of sharks that will inspire people to go out of their way to help protect and save them from extinction.
For me the biggest reward comes when my photographs achieve real world marine conservation successes. Over the years I have had the immense privilege to have my images play a role in the proclamation of marine reserves and achieve changes in fisheries legislation. However the greatest joy and satisfaction comes in the form of the e-mails I receive from people whose lives were touched by my photographs and in turn created their own conservation projects in form of grass roots activities, petition sites or facebook cause groups.
The Senegalese philosopher Baba Dioum said ‘In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.’ Every person who gains an understanding of and love for sharks will bring us one step closer to putting a permanent end to the destructive activities of the shark nets, long-liners and trawlers that are collectively killing millions of sharks and ultimately destroying two thirds of our planet in the process. The ocean is our planet’s switch of life and in more ways then we care to acknowledge, we too, just like sharks depend on a healthy marine realm for our own survival.
Thomas P. Peschak Chief Photographer Save our Seas Foundation
- Sharks are the lions and tigers of the sea, they throne on the apex of the food chain and are crucial for maintaining a healthy balance of life in the ocean.
Vast fleets from major shark fishing nations such as Japan, China, Taiwan and Spain comb the worlds’ oceans for profit. Armed with long-lines and gill nets there are frighteningly few places left on our planet were sharks are not being unsustainably exploited.
An estimated 73 million sharks are killed every year around the world and as a result 50 species are listed as vulnerable or in danger of extinction. Mako, tresher and hammerhead sharks have been hardest hit, the latter declining up to 90% in some parts of its range.
Sharks are primarily caught for their fins, a sought after commodity for use in shark fin soup. Fins can fetch more than 300 US$ per pound and are often sliced off while the shark is still alive, the rest of the body is then wastefully dumped at sea.
Shark meat is only regularly consumed in a dozen or so countries, many of which suffer from great poverty and food insecurity. Shark meat in fact regularly contains high levels of toxins such as mercury and lead, making it dangerous to eat.
Sharks are the glue that holds many of our planet’s marine ecosystems together, without sharks for example coral reefs would be shadows of their diverse riotous selves, become smothered by algae and eventually turn into lifeless rubble.
The fear of sharks permeates all levels of society, from young to old and from rich to poor. From building “shark attack” sandcastles (see photo above) to refusing to dip ones toes into a swimming pool, much of the modern wave of shark bite hysteria can be traced directly to Steven Spielberg’s 1971 film JAWS.
Probably less than 99.99 percent of interactions between sharks and people result in someone being bitten. Statistically, the risk is tiny – in 2008, with the world population soaring to 6.7 billion people, there were only 58 shark bites, of which just four were fatal. In comparison, 253 000 people died from drowning and every year in New York alone around 1600 people are said to be bitten by fellow New Yorkers.
Despite the incredible low risk of a shark bite occurring, South Africa continuous to be one of the few countries that systemically exterminate sharks under the guise of protecting bathers and other ocean users. A 44 km long installation of gill nets that entangle, suffocate and kill sharks has been positioned off the KwaZulu Natal coast since the early 1960s. In addition to catching so called "dangerous sharks", most of the catch is in fact made up of species harmless to humans or other marine animals such as rays, dolphins and turtles.
A credible alternative to shark nets is the use of shark spotters employed to scan the ocean from high vantage points for any approaching sharks. The system has been successfully used in Cape Town since 2004 and whenever a shark is spotted a white flag with shark motive is hoisted and siren sounded to get people out of the water.
Research is currently underway to develop novel chemical shark repellents, both to reduce the risk of bites to ocean users, but also to reduce the number of sharks being caught by tuna and swordfish fisheries.
Diving with sharks has dramatically grown in popularity in recent years and today one can observe in excess of 20 species in two dozen or so countries around the world. In marine eco-tourism one live shark can earn as much as 30 000 US$ per year, while dead that same shark might only fetch a once off payment of less than 50US$.
In spite of their public notoriety we actually know very little about the ecology and behavior of most shark species. In fact every day dedicated scientists are racing the clock to try and discover as much as they can, all the while sharks are becoming more and more elusive due to overfishing.
To find out more about South Africa’s Shark Nets click here or download my Africa Geographic article as a PDF here.
To make your voice heard go to: www.removethenets.com
Comments (19)
Amazing photos and great article. Keep up the good work!
Love,
Harry and the Shark Truth team
Comment by Harry — 22 February 2010 @ 00:49
Excellent and important collection. Great stuff.
Comment by Alex Mustard — 23 February 2010 @ 12:31
Very compelling images that create a great story. If only we could convince more people about how important sharks are to the health of our oceans. here’s to hoping that this message touches at least some of those that need to hear it!
Comment by Pat Ulrich — 23 February 2010 @ 18:36
Echoing the others… amazing images Thomas! Powerful story as well.
Cheers.
Comment by mk — 23 February 2010 @ 20:53
Beautiful impactive shots as ever Tom. Such photos do make an impact and I meet more and more people that are aware of the plight of sharks. lets hope more and more countries follow Palau’s example and that fewer and fewer consume the soup. Keep up the great work and hope to bump into you on another expedition sometime soon….
Comment by Mark Bradfield — 24 February 2010 @ 00:13
Excellent images and text. You are a legend. We will always be indebted to you for your amazing insights and ability to translate this in imagery. Sincerely Mark Addison
Comment by mark addison — 24 February 2010 @ 06:58
Well done Tom. Education is everything. Keep up the good work and never stop spreading the message!
Comment by Dr. Andrea Marshall — 24 February 2010 @ 10:31
Hi Tom.
Amazing images – well done! I, like you, am teaching 6 species of shark awareness to as many people that I can, in the hope of conservation through education. I have had the gift of spending a lot of time with sharks here in our country and can honestly say that they do not deserve the bad reputation that they have been given and if we all band together to make it better and to take the education as far as we can, that we will achieve what needs to be achieved that sharks are given the respect that they deserve and that it is vital that they remain in our world oceans.
Keep up the great work, hope to catch up with you again one day.
Debbie.
Comment by Debbie Smith — 24 February 2010 @ 11:22
Fantastische Arbeit für ein tolles Projekt! Glückwünsche auch aus Spanien. Ich wünsche Dir von Herzen, dass Deine Hingabe möglichst viele Menschen erreicht.
Liebe Grüsse,
Michael
Comment by Michael Tappe — 24 February 2010 @ 11:36
The sight of all those dead sharks certainly makes the blood boil. Such important work you are doing, keep it up Tom. Those well composed thought provoking images are definitely going to have an impact.
Sijmon
Comment by Sijmon de Waal — 24 February 2010 @ 13:17
Hi Tom
Great article and fully agree with the concept of a “Picture paints a thousand words” to that end you have captured some images that should make some people think about what is happening to our oceans sharks.
However I think you should include a few more graphic shots of sharks having their fins cut off, Sharks lying on the reef without fins etc, as that is the kind on image that shocks people into a true realization of what is taking place in our oceans.
I fully support the comments others have made, and wish you all the best in your efforts to eradicate this needless slaughter of millions of sharks worldwide.
Regards
Ian
Comment by Ian Lamont — 24 February 2010 @ 16:36
I didn’t know that Mantas were in any threat, I catch plenty of them fishing in San Francisco Bay (Catch and carefule release of the stingrays here). I have been to Maldives too and that seems very protected too. But shrks are dying in fishing nets, perhaps the solution is to breed more sharks of the endangered species. Frankly with world population expanding overfishing is an irreversible reality. Sigh.
Comment by Parth Vasa — 25 February 2010 @ 07:33
Perhaps like Rik O’Barry has atoned for his dolphin training days by working for dolphin preservation, as shown in “The Cove”, Steven Spielberg should be involved in funding and spreading the word about the importance of shark preservation.
Just a thought.
Comment by Michael Lewis — 25 February 2010 @ 20:09
Hi Thomas,
Great work, I really hope your photographic articles make a huge impact around the world, if you ever need help in S.A. just shout!
Regards
Allen
Comment by Allen Walker — 2 March 2010 @ 09:46
Excellent work and it was a pleasure to meet you while diving at Rocky Bay. Shark Conservation awareness is the only way to go to save the sharks.
Comment by Celia Coleman — 31 March 2010 @ 10:00
[...] Thomas Peschak: Saving the Most Important Fish In the Sea [...]
Pingback by liveBooks RESOLVE Blog feature: Gallery opening – Right now, online & you’re invited! « FiftyCrows Blog — 29 April 2010 @ 21:51
Thomas,
Great pictures of the sharks! Yes, I agree the nets in the worlds oceans are the real killers! I frequently change the backround pictures on my computer with the photos you have taken. Keep up the good work!
Cheers!
Charlie
Comment by Charlie — 27 May 2010 @ 20:36
Fantastic pictures Tom!
Comment by Jane Morgan — 27 June 2010 @ 21:26
With education, my fear has become curiosity and curiosity has become intrigue and and fascination. I hope your continued efforts to educate will allows others this same benefit.
Ashlea
Comment by Ashlea — 13 August 2010 @ 17:04