Micronesian Shark foundation

Objectives:
Long-term shark research and study to assist shark protection and environmental awareness in Micronesia and Palau.

Goals:

1. To establish a long term program for shark research and study in Palau.

2. To create and assist similar foundations in other parts of Micronesia.

3. To develop scientific tools to protect the prime dive sites of Palau.

4. To reduce the threats to Palau's shark population through MSF’s research.

5. To make Palau synonymous with Shark Study, Shark Protection and Environmental

Awareness

History:
2002: Tova Harel and Navot Bornovski owners of Fish ‘n Fins dive shop, Ocean Hunter I and Ocean Hunter II liveaboards and Kenneth Johnny founded the Micronesian Shark Foundation in order to start long-term shark research and study in Palau.

2003: Micronesian Shark Foundation contacts shark expert Prof. Phil Lobel from Boston University.

February 2003: Prof. Lobel tags sharks and deploys loggers.

March 2003: Micronesian Shark Foundation and President Tommy Remengesau Jr. host the first annual event of Shark Week Palau. National Geographic joins the project. Lectures are open to the public.

September 2003: Loggers are retrieved from sites and data is analyzed.
February 2004: 2nd annual Shark Week Palau. Divers and participants from 7 countries join the event. Lectures and activities are open to the public.
March 2004: Prof. Phil Lobel and National Geographic Greg Marshall conduct Critter Cam research in Palau for the first time. Loggers and tags are deployed.
September 2004: Prof. Lobel retrieves loggers from sites and data is analyzed. Prof. Lobel writes first scientific document.
April 2005: 3rd annual Shark Week Palau with Greg Marshall & Prof. Phil Lobel. Divers from 11 countries participate in the event (USA, Holland, Russia, Germany, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy, UK, Israel and Palau). Lectures and activities are open to the public.
November 2005: Loggers are retrieved from sites and data is analyzed.
November 2005: MSF and Prof. Lobel present their progress to the Coral Reef Task Force.

Future plans:

1. To continue shark research and study in Palau. Tagging sharks and logging their

movements to determine the range of the shark’s habitat in Palau and to record the

frequency of their visits to each area.

2. To continue the involvement of the local community in the MSF activities. Local

community is attending the evening seminars during Shark Week Palau, including high

schools and The Palau Community College.

3. To share the data collected by MSF with local agencies and government.

4. To expand the area covered by the research.
5. To research for DNA resemblance with neighboring islands to study migration

patterns.

6. To secure funds to continue the research and study.

Micronesian

Shark Foundation

P.O. Box 964

Koror, Palau 96940

Tel. 680-488-2637

Fax. 680-488-5418