Our Core Programs:
• Ocean Ecosystem Protection
• Endangered Whale Shark Conservation Program
• Shark Protection
• Research Expeditions
• Endangered Species Protection
Our Goals:
• Stop further loss of endangered marine species by building advocacy in the hearts and minds of humans.
• Conserve ecosystems for future generations by providing education, research, forums and scientific information for policy makers and stakeholders.
• Provide scientific study that leads to increased worldwide protection of endangered marine species.
• Create awareness for endangered shark species and the threats leading to their extinction.
• Provide citizen science research expeditions to educate, research and inform policy for the creation of marine protected areas.
• Promote marine protected areas as valuable tools for ecosystem and species protection.
• Inspire families and children to become citizen scientists to help protect endangered species and create the future of conservation.
• Conserve ecosystems for future generations by providing education, research, forums and scientific information for policy makers and stakeholders.
• Provide scientific study that leads to increased worldwide protection of endangered marine species.
• Create awareness for endangered shark species and the threats leading to their extinction.
• Provide citizen science research expeditions to educate, research and inform policy for the creation of marine protected areas.
• Promote marine protected areas as valuable tools for ecosystem and species protection.
• Inspire families and children to become citizen scientists to help protect endangered species and create the future of conservation.
Programs in Partnership:
• Hope Spots with Mission Blue and IUCN
• Marine Protected Area management action plan for Southeast Florida with Our Florida Reefs, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) and other partners
• Cetacean citizen science research with Dominica Sperm Whale Project
• Manatee expeditions with funding benefiting Save the Manatee Club
• Forage fish initiative with The PEW Charitable Trusts
• Coral disease reporting to SEAFAN and NOAA
• ShutterShark underwater photography mentorship and events in conjunction with Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
• Shark Jewelry Art Project with Harry W. Smith and Manon von Gerkan
• Art for Sharks' Sake™ Multi City Gallery Project with Kevin McHugh
• Hope Spots with Mission Blue and IUCN
• Marine Protected Area management action plan for Southeast Florida with Our Florida Reefs, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) and other partners
• Cetacean citizen science research with Dominica Sperm Whale Project
• Manatee expeditions with funding benefiting Save the Manatee Club
• Forage fish initiative with The PEW Charitable Trusts
• Coral disease reporting to SEAFAN and NOAA
• ShutterShark underwater photography mentorship and events in conjunction with Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
• Shark Jewelry Art Project with Harry W. Smith and Manon von Gerkan
• Art for Sharks' Sake™ Multi City Gallery Project with Kevin McHugh
A Few of Our Science Speaker Venues:
• Broward College Science Speaker Series
• TEDx Miami
• Boston Sea Rovers
• Zoo Miami
• Pura Vida Divers Speaker Series
• Earth Day Series for Broward 100 - Broward County Library Main Branch
• Lockheed Martin Dive Club Series
• South Florida Underwater Photography Society
• South Florida Divers, Inc.
• National Week of the Ocean
• Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center
• TEDx Miami
• Boston Sea Rovers
• Zoo Miami
• Pura Vida Divers Speaker Series
• Earth Day Series for Broward 100 - Broward County Library Main Branch
• Lockheed Martin Dive Club Series
• South Florida Underwater Photography Society
• South Florida Divers, Inc.
• National Week of the Ocean
• Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center
Some of Our Outreach Events:
• Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center "Shutter Shark" Photography Event
• Museum of Discovery and Science Leonardo Da Vinci Society - Ocean Discovery Event with Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
• Sea Delight Ocean Fund's Conservation Events
• The International SeaKeepers Society DISCOVERY Yachts Program Annual Founders' Dinner Event
• Coral Restoration Foundation's Plantapalooza
• DIVE IN Lecture Series Events at Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center
• Rock the Ocean Foundation's Conservation Village at Tortuga Music Festival
• REEF.org's REEF Fest Key Largo - Silver Sponsor
• Museum of Discovery and Science Leonardo Da Vinci Society - Ocean Discovery Event with Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
• Sea Delight Ocean Fund's Conservation Events
• The International SeaKeepers Society DISCOVERY Yachts Program Annual Founders' Dinner Event
• Coral Restoration Foundation's Plantapalooza
• DIVE IN Lecture Series Events at Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center
• Rock the Ocean Foundation's Conservation Village at Tortuga Music Festival
• REEF.org's REEF Fest Key Largo - Silver Sponsor
Some of Our Accomplishments:
• The IUCN World Conservation Congress and Sylvia Earle announced the Coastal Southeast Florida Hope Spot based on our goals, application and proposed designation for a protected area from Key Biscayne to St. Lucie Inlet adding connectivity to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This Hope Spot marine protected area proposal is the result of four years of assessments, spatial planning, creation of zoning, stakeholder meetings, advocacy and policy work. Research, stakeholder input, proposed zoning and feasibility findings were submitted to the IUCN World Conservation Congress for review and subsequently approved.
• Establishing a long-term water quality monitoring program being facilitated by state funding made possible by the work of stakeholders from the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Forum and SEFCRI (Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative). Shark Team One is a key NGO within SEFCRI.
Many government agencies and institutions will oversee this multiyear project which seeks to improve ocean water quality in the Southeast Florida region and also allows for coral preservation research to take place. Shark Team One worked on this initiative for 6 years. Our Founder, Angela Smith is also the nominated and elected Vice Chair for NGOs for the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI).
• Policy and execution work for 6 years to help facilitate the passing of Florida House Bill 53 and Senate Bill 232 on March 19th, 2018. Those bills created the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area which is the official beginning of the designated area for protection and provides funding for critical coral preservation within the Hope Spot and along the Southeast Florida coastal region.
• Goliath grouper state endangered species protection status successfully maintained in Florida via our campaign and subsequent policy work with FWC.
• Issues of shore-based shark fishing placed into agenda of FWC via Shark Team One support and in conjunction with other Florida community stakeholder groups. Ongoing support for enactment and protection for both tiger sharks and great hammerhead sharks in Florida waters via this initiative. Direct work with FWC to prohibit great hammerhead tournaments in the state of Florida.
• Creation of the globally recognized award-winning conservation documentary short film, Tiger Sharks Fight for Survival which follows Shark Team One’s research at The Bahamas National Shark Sanctuary. Film awards to date span the course of 3 years and have been awarded from national, international festivals and science entities such as Jackson Hole Science Media Summit and Wildlife Conservation Film Festival.
• Successful campaign and subsequent policy change to add barracuda to the prohibited species list in Florida state waters.
• Support of the Endangered Species Act Threatened listing for the oceanic whitetip. This accomplishment used our outreach support, petitions and studies.
• Establishing a team and team leader in Mexico to oversee the Endangered Whale Shark Conservation Program's local activities.
• Nominated and elected as Vice-chair of NGOs for Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI).
• Establishing a long-term water quality monitoring program being facilitated by state funding made possible by the work of stakeholders from the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Forum and SEFCRI (Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative). Shark Team One is a key NGO within SEFCRI.
Many government agencies and institutions will oversee this multiyear project which seeks to improve ocean water quality in the Southeast Florida region and also allows for coral preservation research to take place. Shark Team One worked on this initiative for 6 years. Our Founder, Angela Smith is also the nominated and elected Vice Chair for NGOs for the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI).
• Policy and execution work for 6 years to help facilitate the passing of Florida House Bill 53 and Senate Bill 232 on March 19th, 2018. Those bills created the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area which is the official beginning of the designated area for protection and provides funding for critical coral preservation within the Hope Spot and along the Southeast Florida coastal region.
• Goliath grouper state endangered species protection status successfully maintained in Florida via our campaign and subsequent policy work with FWC.
• Issues of shore-based shark fishing placed into agenda of FWC via Shark Team One support and in conjunction with other Florida community stakeholder groups. Ongoing support for enactment and protection for both tiger sharks and great hammerhead sharks in Florida waters via this initiative. Direct work with FWC to prohibit great hammerhead tournaments in the state of Florida.
• Creation of the globally recognized award-winning conservation documentary short film, Tiger Sharks Fight for Survival which follows Shark Team One’s research at The Bahamas National Shark Sanctuary. Film awards to date span the course of 3 years and have been awarded from national, international festivals and science entities such as Jackson Hole Science Media Summit and Wildlife Conservation Film Festival.
• Successful campaign and subsequent policy change to add barracuda to the prohibited species list in Florida state waters.
• Support of the Endangered Species Act Threatened listing for the oceanic whitetip. This accomplishment used our outreach support, petitions and studies.
• Establishing a team and team leader in Mexico to oversee the Endangered Whale Shark Conservation Program's local activities.
• Nominated and elected as Vice-chair of NGOs for Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI).