Editorial #01

My earliest memories of sharks come from articles in National Geographic Magazine and Jacques Cousteau’s documentaries. These elements ignited my passion for the oceans, and especially for sharks.

On September 23, 2003, the Save Our Seas Foundation was created in order to safeguard the future of the oceans, particularly for sharks. A tall order, to be sure, but with every project funded we make positive steps towards realising this goal.

To quote Peter Benchley’s infamous bestseller, Jaws, ‘Sharks have everything a scientist dreams of. They’re beautiful. They’re like an impossibly perfect piece of machinery. They’re as graceful as any bird. They’re as mysterious as any animal on earth.’ As most of us know, the book, followed by the movie embedded a viral and irrational fear of sharks. However, since the book was published in 1974, shark-focused research, education and conservation has shifted the image of these animals from terrifying man-eating beasts to fascinating and important animals in need of protection.

The inaugural issue of our magazine is a visual celebration of our work. Today, with more than 160 projects in more than 40 countries, we have supported both emerging and established scientists, conservationists and educators all over the world. We hope that through this magazine, you can get a glimpse of the exciting projects we fund – many of them focused on charismatic marine megafauna.

Through powerful imagery, we highlight the incredible diversity and beauty of nature, but also the impact that we have on the oceans. With this magazine, we strive to be a model in conservation media, bonding compelling visuals with revealing content.

I believe that knowledge is key in creating holistic conservation strategies. In a world that thrives on negative media, we want this magazine to be a driver of optimism – showcasing the ripple effect that one organisation can have in the world of ocean conservation.