Record 61 grants for 2021

The Swiss philanthropic organisation says this means a hopeful new cohort of ocean conservationists, young scientists and local initiatives being supported to make a positive change for our planet.

As the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) celebrates its 18th year dedicated to protecting life, especially sharks and rays, in our oceans, the Foundation has found hope in its biggest-ever cohort of grant recipients. The organisation continues to invest in research, conservation and education projects, albeit with experience now gained and looking ahead to its evolving conservation strategy in our changing world. This year, the Foundation exceeded its average of 50 projects funded annually by announcing 61 grant awards for 2021 and received a 50% increase in applications for its keystone grants.

Some Keystone Grant recipients, like Demian Chapman, are tackling the illegal trade in ‘rhino rays’: the guitarfishes, giant guitarfishes and wedgefishes nicknamed for their pointy snouts and Endangered status. He is developing DNA tools to help border control officers in Hong Kong to identify illegal shark products. Others, like Aristide Takoukam Kamla, are visionary in their quest to gather information for regions where we know little of sharks and rays. Aristide has created a citizen science platform and mobile app for fishermen across Cameroon’s 400 km coastline to record sightings of marine life: the information he gathers will be some of the first for the region.

By Jake Frith