Lately some of my images were used in conservation efforts.

The latest examples were a shark conservation campaign in Guatemala by Mundo Azul and the national wide campaign for raising funds for WWF in the Netherlands.

In Guatemala a project was started to collect data on shark populations with the help of local fishermen. A poster was created for the fishermen to recognize the species they were catching better.

Making sure fishermen record correct numbers of their catch is essential in getting shark conservation issues on the map in Guatemala. My Blue shark image was used in the poster.

Blue sharks are worldwide hugely impacted as bycatch in fisheries. They are however also targeted directly far offshore by longliners in the Atlantic Ocean.

In Guatemala the fishermen are using sharkfins caught in bycatch as savings for a rainy day. Since Guatemala is one of the porest countries in Central-America it is understandable that fishermen make use of every catch they can get. The fins are in high demand for their use in sharkfin soup.

Mundo Azul is trying to move the fishermen away from catching sharks bit by bit because of their important role in the marine ecosystem and the already unsustainable levels of catches in the Atlantic.

The book for WWF campaign "Aarde op 1" (freely translated to "Earth 1st") was used as one of the many initiatives to raise funds for WWF's conservation efforts.

Needless to say I am proud to be featured in the book. Listening to the publisher of the book I learned it was very well received.

It even is still available for sale here. The fundraising campaign in general seems to have been a success as well.

Now let's hope the money is put to good use.

Hopefully ocean issues get their fair share too..