THOMAS P. PESCHAK

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

Please VIEW this new photo essay at my Save our Seas Foundation Blog.

My new BLOG: "Saving the Ocean - One Photograph at a Time" is finally up and running.

As chief photographer of the Save our Seas Foundation I have one single minded mission. I am determined to create photographs that make a difference and change human behavior that is damaging to the ocean. I want my images to educate, inspire, mesmerize and create an appreciation for the fragile marine realm and, in a small way, contribute to safeguarding the world’s oceans for future generations.

My website will continue to be my platform for image galleries and longer features. I hope that my new BLOG will be a more immediate tool to share my thoughts and ideas and to communicate conservation concerns and successes.

The July issue of National Geographic Magazine features my photo story on manta rays 'Feeding Frenzy'. It documents for the first time a massive feeding aggregation of 200+ manta rays and half a dozen whale sharks in the Maldives. This natural history spectacle was discovered by Save our Seas Foundation  marine biologist Guy Stevens.

Watch a video of the assignment here

To coincide with the publication of my cover story in the May issue of Africa Geographic magazine, we (Save our Seas Foundation) have created a 11 minute multi-media feature combining photography, video and audio. Shark Nets: The Real Killers of the Sea? investigates the shark nets that have been killing sharks off South Africa's east coast in the name of bather protection for more than 50 years.

"Large numbers of sharks are a non-negotiable prerequisite for healthy seas, yet South Africa is one of only a handful of countries in the world where shark nets are still used. Many people wrongly believe that these nets are a continuous barrier that prevents sharks from approaching beaches. In reality they are gill nets designed to entangle, suffocate and kill sharks. The first nets were installed in 1951 and were so effective that by 1989 45 kilometers were in place at 64 beaches. Key targets are so-called “dangerous sharks” (great white, tiger and zambezi), but the majority caught are species that have never seriously injured a human."

Please visit:  www.saveourseas.com/sharknets

On October 29th, 2008, my photograph ‘Sardine Snapper’ was awarded a specially commended prize in the Underwater World category of the 2008 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. After winning the black and white category last year I was very pleased to again have my work feature in this prestigious competition that attracts in excess of 32,000 entries.