Milestones & Achievements

1999

  • The SCS forerunner, Richard Peirce Shark Conservation (RPSC), was founded.

2000

  • RPSC financed the re-commencement of the tagging of all sharks caught by the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain.

2001

  • RPSC paid for the building of a prototype propeller guard for use by South African White shark cage diving operators.

2003

  • 3 week shark search expedition off Devon and Cornwall generated more media interest than any other pervious 'shark event' in the UK. For the 3 weeks TV, radio and newspaper coverage was used to increase awareness of the plight faced by sharks and the depletion of sharks off Devon and Cornwall.

2005

  • Our 1st Adriatic shark search expedition confirmed highly depleted shark numbers and:

  • - helped Dr Alen Soldo achieve protection for the Great White shark in the Adriatic;

  • - resulted in the publication of a scientific paper on Blue sharks (Soldo, Peirce);

  • - a highly acclaimed documentary film was made of this expedition, which was screened across Europe and hailed as a milestone conservation film.

  • RPSC supporters helped in the first pilot project leading to the successful launch of cage diving in the UK in 2006.

2006

  • 2nd Adriatic shark search expedition reconfirmed 2005 results and recorded and filmed large Blue sharks in the central Adriatic.

  • Massive publicity accompanied the launch of UK shark cage diving, and this was successfully used by RPSC to further awareness of the need for shark conservation.

2007

  • 1st Cornwall Porbeagle shark expedition achieved:

  • - the first satellite tagging of Porbeagles in the eastern Atlantic;

  • - the first good quality underwater footage of Porbeagles;

  • - the first good quality still photographs of Porbeagles.

2008

  • RPSC morphed into the Shark Conservation Society (SCS)

  • SCS Kuwait expedition marked the first shark research work carried out in the Arabian Gulf, which resulted in:

  • - initiating compilation of the first researched list of shark and ray species present in these waters;

  • - the discovery of a possible new species (still awaiting confirmation);

  • - helping to trigger new laws in Kuwaiti waters to restrict shark fisheries.

  • 2nd Porbeagle expedition continued producing a Porbeagle map of the north Cornish coast, and scientific paper was published based on the results of the satellite tagging carried out by the Society in 2007 (Pade)

2009

  • Release of Sharks in British Seas on DVD. The first film made about Britain's sharks - SCS were major contributors to the film.

  • SCS Qatar Expedition - this expedition continued the work which was started in Kuwait in 2008 and by the end of the expedition:

  • - 6 new species had been confirmed present in the Gulf;

  • - Over 300 hours chumming achieved;

  • - Over 3500 sharks and rays had been processed and recorded in the markets;

  • - SCS started lobbying for protection for the Green Sawfish, an annual 3 month ban on elasmobranch landings and a yearly 3 month closure of a probable Whitecheek and Milk shark pupping/nursery ground.

  • In September a small SCS team visited Qatar and in talks with the Qatar Ministry of Environment (Dept. of Fisheries) suggested the following conservation measures:

  • - Mandatory release and reporting of all Green Sawfish;

  • - An annual 3 month (Feb 15 - May 15) ban on the landing of all sharks and rays;

  • - Closure to all fishing in the same period for a 2 mile area near Al Alia island. This is the nursery area for Whitecheek and Milk sharks discovered on the April expedition.

  • The Ministry of Environment agreed to all three of the above suggestions.

  • September saw the publication of the first SCS newsletter and opening of the SCS online shop.

STOP PRESS: The SCS Oct. 09 Adriatic Expedition successfully proved a Blue shark pupping ground/nursery area in the central Adriatic for which protection is now being sought.

Copyright © 2008 Richard Peirce