Please help SRI protect sharks!
Dear SRI member, This has been another amazing year for shark research and ocean conservation! A few years ago, the future of the ocean looked grim. But in the past few years we have witnessed sweeping changes in public attitudes. The future of the world’s ocean is looking brighter than it did a short time ago, yet there is still much to be done. On the back of this page are some of the projects for which your support is needed. Shark Research Institute (SRI) strongly believes that science goes hand-in-hand with conservation, and that conservation efforts are most effective when they are science-based. Indeed, our research has proved critical in obtaining much-needed protective legislation for sharks and the ocean ecosystem. Your continued financial assistance is vital, both to keep the momentum going and to continue the research that enables us to work so effectively for ocean conservation. Please, send as much as you can afford so that we can continue to fight the good fight. Sincerely,
Stan Waterman, President
Receive a special DVD with a donation of $100 or more.
Donations are 100% tax-deductible from your US Federal Income taxes. Please make checks payable to: The Shark Research Institute P.O. Box 40 Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Please apply my donation to the following project(s): ___ Ocean Legacy Society ___ Cocos Shark Survey ___ Ocean Advocacy ___ DNA Study
___ Conservation Marketing ___ Special Projects Fund
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Ocean Legacy Society The objective of Ocean Legacy Society is to build a $6 million endowment to ensure our continued stewardship of the ocean and its resources. It also to provides funds for rapid response to conservation emergencies. There are many ways to donate to the endowment: bequests, trusts, retirement plans, gifts of appreciated securities or closely held stock, real estate, tangible personal property or cash donations. Contributions to the endowment provide a lasting gift, a legacy that confirms your commitment to conservation of ocean resources for future generations. You may wish to consult your legal and tax advisors for an analysis of the many benefits and tax incentives available. Cocos Island Shark Survey Cocos Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a breeding area for commercially important and endangered species. Its rich biodiversity is threatened by commercial fisheries and poachers who exploit its resources for personal gain. In August, thanks to a grant from the Rohauer Collection Foundation, SRI was able to initiate a joint survey of Cocos Island shark populations with PRETOMA, a Costa Rican conservation organization, using radio telemetry. The study is providing scientific data needed by Costa Rica to support the conservation legislation to protect their shark populations for future generations. Ocean Advocacy Sharks play a critical role in maintaining the health of the ocean ecosystem. Alive, they are also economic resources of immense value, particularly to developing countries where shark tourism provides continuing revenue streams across many economic sectors, and serves as incentive to legislate protection for marine species. Thanks in very large part to data presented by SRI which documented a worldwide decline in whale sharks, the species now has international protection under two United Nations Treaty Organizations: The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and The Convention in Trade on Endangered Species (CITES). It is critical that SRI scientists continue to attend these meetings to provide member nations with scientific data supporting protection for sharks and other threatened marine species. DNA Study Satellite tagging provides information on the geographic overlap of whale shark populations due to migration, but only genetic information can tell us if they are interbreeding—important because the objective is not only to conserve whale sharks but also their genetic diversity. We are able to distinguish whale sharks from other sharks and we are working on mitochondrial control that will provide data about population subdivisions. Advertising / Marketing of Conservation Objectives Conservation requires more than passionate commitment. Funds are needed to document what is happening in the ocean, bring it to the public’s attention, and change cultural practices that severely damage the ocean ecosystem.