OUR MISSION
How it all started
In 2019, our founder Zimy took his camera under water to film the magnificent Tiger Sharks for the first time…
As soon as you find yourself in front of these amazing creatures, you can immediately feel their energy. They literally control everything that surrounds themselves. If they find themselves in a bad mood, the entire environment will start moving faster as if they have the power to control time and movement. On the other hand, if they are calm and relaxed, everything else will be evolving in peace and silence. Witnessing such power is something that will remain in you forever.
After having lived this specific moment for the first time, Zimy knew he had to bring his filmmaking background underwater in order to help these misunderstood creatures before time runs out…
The oceans are under threat
It is nothing new that the world’s ocean ecosystems are under threat: sharks are disappearing, coral reefs are bleaching, plastic pollution is smothering everything, yet the world’s leaders still don’t seem to take it seriously and put real measures in place.
Despite thousands of scientifical reports trying to sound the alarm, the ocean’s ecosystems keep getting closer and closer to collapsing.
This is why we are fighting and working to change the tide !
Too much pressure
Sharks simply can’t keep up with the current fishing pressure.
Unlike other species of fish, sharks have a very slow reproduction cycle.
All sharks species are different but it usually takes years for them to reach sexual maturity, once pregnant, they have a much longer gestation period and give birth to a lot less offsprings than other species.
Either targeted or killed as by-catch, the current fishing pressure in the world’s ocean is simply too much for sharks to have time to reproduce which is the reason why their numbers are so rapidly decreasing…
The combination of slow reproductive rates and targeted fishing practices as well as bycatch creates a huge challenge for shark populations to sustain themselves in the face of current fishing pressures.
Urgent conservation measures are essential to ensure the survival and recovery of these vulnerable apex predators in our oceans.
Due to fishing, 90% of the world’s large fish have been wiped out from our oceans
//
Due to human impact, 70% of shark and ray species have disapeared in the last 50 years
//
85% of shrimp fisheries is bycatch, not targeted species that will die for no reason
//
12 million tonnes of plastic are poured into the ocean every single year
//
Each and every year, more than 100 million sharks are killed for their fins
//
50% of coral reefs are already dead, we have until 2050 to save what remains
//
Due to fishing, 90% of the world’s large fish have been wiped out from our oceans // Due to human impact, 70% of shark and ray species have disapeared in the last 50 years // 85% of shrimp fisheries is bycatch, not targeted species that will die for no reason // 12 million tonnes of plastic are poured into the ocean every single year // Each and every year, more than 100 million sharks are killed for their fins // 50% of coral reefs are already dead, we have until 2050 to save what remains //
PROTECTING SHARKS THROUGH IMAGES, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
The power of images
Deep Sea Guardians is a non-profit environnemental organization founded in October 2021. Our mission is to use our creative skills and vision in order to create powerful images that will raise awareness and educate people about ocean conservation and all the issues that marine creatures are facing nowadays.
One of the main assets of art is to create emotions within people and this why we’re using it to promote ocean conservation. Once people fall in love with something, they start caring about it and protecting it. This is exactly what we want to do through our images.
Scientific research
Alongside images, science plays a crucial role in protecting sharks.
Us, at Deep Sea Guardians, we strongly believe that both images and science should work together in order to change the tide.
This is why we are leading scientific researches worldwide with different approaches:
We conduct research and monitoring studies in collaboration with marine biologists in order to better understand shark populations, behavior, and habitats. These studies help identify areas where sharks are most vulnerable, assess the impact of human activities and prove the pressure of overfishing in order to ultimately inform the governments to try and implement new regulations. and informs conservation efforts.
This knowledge helps inform the development of conservation measures, such as fishing regulations, marine protected areas, and international agreements to control trade in endangered shark species.
Education
Our 3rd and last focus in our strategy is education.
Education plays a crucial role in protecting sharks by raising awareness to future generations, fostering conservation-minded attitudes, and promoting sustainable practices.
It helps people understand the importance of sharks in marine ecosystems. It raises awareness about the critical role sharks play in maintaining the balance of ocean ecosystems and highlights their unique biological characteristics. By learning about the ecological significance of sharks, people are more likely to appreciate their value and support conservation efforts.
Moreover, it helps dispel common misconceptions and myths about sharks. Many people perceive sharks as dangerous and ruthless monsters, largely due to media portrayals. Education provides accurate information about shark behavior, highlighting the fact that sharks aren’t interested in humans and that they are apex predators, not monsters…
