FINS Attached: Marine Research and Conservation

FINS ATTACHED 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW

Fins Attached Value Proposition

Fins Attached is a nonprofit organization focused on ocean conservation, particularly the protection of sharks and other marine species. Our value proposition revolves around:

1. Conservation through Research: Fins Attached conducts and supports scientific research to gather critical data on shark behavior, populations, and ocean health. This research informs global conservation efforts.

2. Advocacy for Marine Life Protection: The organization advocates for the preservation of marine ecosystems, raising awareness about threats like overfishing, shark finning, and habitat destruction.

3. Education and Awareness: Fins Attached educates the public, stakeholders, and policy-makers about the importance of sharks in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them.

4. Sustainable Solution: They promote sustainable fishing practices and policies aimed at reducing bycatch and overfishing while protecting endangered marine species.

5. Collaboration for Global Impact: Fins Attached collaborates with other conservation organizations, governments, and communities to create a unified, global approach to ocean conservation efforts.

Shark and ray populations continue to plummet, with some iconic species endanger of extinction. Half a century of global decline in oceanic sharks and rays' assessed 31 species of sharks and rays and reported a 71% decline in global abundance since 1970. Global fishing pressure doubled and a tripling of shark and ray catches occurred during the same period. It is essential that governments step up and create new MPAs while expanding existing ones. This is what Fins Attached is fighting for.

Aspects of shark and ocean conservation:

1. Overfishing and Bycatch: Overfishing poses a severe threat to shark populations, driven by demand for shark fins, meat, and other products. Additionally, sharks often become unintentional bycatch in fisheries targeting other species.
2. Shark Finning: Shark finning involves cutting off a shark's fins and discarding the rest of the body at sea. This practice is often driven by the demand for shark fin soup, a traditional Asian delicacy. Shark finning is unsustainable and has led to a significant decline in shark populations.
3. Habitat Loss: Degradation and loss of critical shark habitats, such as coral reefs and mangroves, impact their ability to find food and reproduce. Coastal development, pollution, and climate change contribute to habitat destruction.
4. Climate Change: Climate change affects sharks by impacting ocean temperatures, acidity levels, and food availability. Changes in these factors can disrupt migration patterns, reproductive cycles, and prey availability for sharks.
5. Education and Awareness: Raising public awareness about the importance of sharks and the threats they face is essential. Education initiatives can help dispel myths about sharks, promote understanding of their ecological role, and foster conservation-minded attitudes.
6. Legislation and International Cooperation: Enacting and enforcing legislation to protect sharks is vital. Many shark species are migratory and cross international borders, making global cooperation essential for their conservation. International agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), play a role in regulating trade in shark products.
7. Establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Creating MPAs that specifically protect shark habitats is an effective conservation strategy. These areas can serve as refuges where sharks are free from fishing pressure and other threats.
8. Promotion of Sustainable Practices: Encouraging sustainable fishing practices, such as shark ecotourism, can provide economic alternatives to destructive activities. This approach supports local economies while conserving shark populations.