The Thresher Shark Research & Conservation Project

[ryanbooker]

Hey all,

I don't post here terribly often but I've been a lurker for a while. I'm a GUE Tech 1 & Cave 1 diver and have been diving or about 3 years.

I'd like to give a plug for a great project I'm involved with: The Thresher Shark Research & Conservation Project (website: threshersharkproject.org)—A research, conservation and community project operating on Malapascua Island in the Philippines to study Monad Shoal and the Thresher Sharks and Manta Rays that frequent it.

I spent three months there last year and return next year for another six. The project carries out important work providing advice to the Philippine government and recording baseline data for Monad Shoal.

It's a worthwhile project and could really use our support. Following is a short blog post I wrote about my experience on the project last year. I hope you'll forgive the plug and get involved. I'm sure some people on here have participated already. There are still places left for March 2011 & beyond.

Cheers.

>>>

In 2011 I'll be returning to The Thresher Shark Research & Conservation Project for a six month stint as Science Officer. Helping out on an important scientific and community project with some of the greatest people I've had the pleasure to meet and work with.

I spent the best three months of my life there in 2009, diving every day, researching sharks and mantas, and helping a small island community—through the research and its application to conservation and within the local dive tourism industry, but also directly within the community, where the project provides jobs, helped construct housing and where TSRCP volunteers teach marine biology and conservation at the local school.

Life on the island was confronting at first. About 2 km square consisting of a couple of small villages and a few dive resorts (largely foreign owned, but where the island community gets 80% of its income), there is no permanent electricity and no fresh water. The island is powered by petrol generators prone to breakdown and drinking water is imported daily. A simple, largely subsistence lifestyle. I grew to love the island and its people.

HISTORY

TSRCP was started in 2005 by research scientists Simon P. Oliver and Alison J. Beckett to create a baseline of Monad Shoal in the Philippines—primarily concerned with Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias pelagicus) cleaning activity as well as the shoal's coral coverage and general health.

Monad Shoal is about 8 km east of the southern beach of Malapascua Island in the Visayan Sea—an open water seamount with a relatively square dive profile around 21–24m that plunges to 250m, presenting a unique opportunity to observe and record these rarely studied oceanic sharks.

Both threshers and Manta Rays (Manta birostris) frequent the site, as well as a myriad of other pelagic and reef fish. Particularly the various species of cleaner fish that draw the oceanic wildlife to the shoal.

TSRCP is a significant source of environmental, ecological and behavioural research for Pelagic Thresher Sharks, providing research, education and conservation locally, regionally and internationally.

GUE RELATIONSHIP

Through volunteer divers (including myself) TSRCP became aware of Global Underwater Explorers, a non-profit diver training agency focussed on research, conservation and exploration, whose training methods and techniques are uniquely suited to scientific research diving. In 2009 TSRCP became a GUE affiliated project and now provides all volunteer divers with basic training aimed at perfecting the buoyancy, trim and propulsion techniques necessary for a successful research diver.

JOIN US

I encourage any divers out there to volunteer with the The Thresher Shark Research & Conservation Project. My three months there were amazing—peaceful, eye opening and life changing. The most fulfilling 'work' I've ever done. I can't wait to be back in 2011.

 

[edzville]

I'm interested to volunteer! I'm checking your website for details. Thanks for sharing this information. It's good to know that there efforts like this that provides an opportunity for individuals to contribute in one way or another. Kudos to y'all for the great work that you are doing! =)

 

[Babydamulag]

How much does it cost?

 

[ryanbooker]

Thanks for your interest. The cost varies a little depending on how long you intend to stay, the details are available on the 'Expeditions' page at threshersharkproject.org

 

[Babydamulag]

So, lemme get this straight.....A volunteer has to pay to work?






....it just ain't right!

 

[eagerbeaver]

JD, it's like many volunteer programs out there where you cover your expenses by "donating" a lump sum to the project and then you get to sleep, eat and dive for nothing.

It's a good opportunity for people with an interest in the topic to help with some research, and the project even allows people doing their own research to join and study specific topics relevant to their work.

With my proximity to it all I'd have to say it is a positive thing where information is gained and work is done with the governmental organisations to try and implement marine protection.

 

[ryanbooker]

@Babydamulag

Thanks again for your interest. As Matt suggested, independent, non-profit projects like The Thresher Shark Research & Conservation Project often rely on volunteers. TSRCP receives funding from scientific research agencies for capital assets, but relies heavily on volunteers to fund ongoing costs.

Funding from volunteers provides local jobs, community services, science & conservation education, and ensures the continuation of TSRCP's research program and dealings with the Philippine government to provide protection for Thresher Sharks.

I hope this helps clarify why volunteers are asked to cover their subsistence costs while helping on the project.