By: Trinity Steele
To start with a background of how I ended up here, I was looking at earning some experience in the conservation field, so when I saw this program online, it seemed perfectly fitted to my goals. I initially desired to broaden my horizons about different opportunities and paths for my future. It is safe to say that after having spent the past four weeks here at Gili Shark Conservation, I have exceedingly developed a profound comprehension of the topic.
I signed up to shark month specifically in hopes to gain more knowledge of shark ecology, shark habitats and human interactions. In addition, I was keen on grasping a deeper understanding of how local communities are able to contribute to protecting the land in which we stand upon, and the ocean in which we rely upon.
Throughout the studies in which we conducted on whitetip reef sharks, we observed various behavioural changes when the sharks were exposed to human interaction – an interesting thing to take note of as we acknowledge the habitat shift throughout previous years with this species. We were also fortunate enough to do photo identification for many sharks, even finding new ones in which we were able to name! It was super interesting to be able to recognise the sharks that we spent so much time studying while we went diving, from seeing pregnant mummas to juveniles that remained in their favourite comfy spots. Advancing my knowledge on these sharks definitely provided me with eye-opening perspectives of how their minds operate.
On another note, something I truly admire about Gili Shark Conservation is their Coral Catch program – a program designed to provide opportunities for local Indonesian women in marine conservation, while continuing to inspire many with their influence. I was honoured to work alongside a team of coral superwomen, who dedicated their time and energy into both an amazing cause, and in the people around them. The supportive environment and positive energy of everyone is something I genuinely appreciated.
Other programs such as Unite Gili aided in our research as we collected observational data from various dive centres in the area, allowing them to get involved in the project by contributing to citizen science. In addition to this, we combined this with our own collected information of indicator species to upload to our databases, which was super rewarding taking part of.
Other conservation efforts included the weekly trash cleanup, both on surrounding beaches as well as along the paths that we would walk upon daily. After successfully collecting many kilograms of rubbish, I would hope to say that we have inspired many to get involved in a simple, yet impactful movement.
Throughout the shark month, I was fortunate enough to attend 4 different masterclasses with leading scientists and conservationists, providing contrasting perspectives to certain environmental protection and preservation strategies. These talks allowed me to expand my viewpoints of how ocean conservation is heavily interconnected with sociology.
Additionally, as a part of the shark month program, we were exposed to the reality of one of Lombok’s fish and shark markets – the second largest in all of Indonesia. We witnessed firsthand how numerous shark and ray species were butchered and sold as a means to live, displaying the livelihoods of many. A sad realisation occurred, sparking inspiration in me to make a change through new approaches to conservation. On another note, it was motivating to see how some shark fishermen had converted their careers to become local tour guides, both aiding in the protection of these magnificent creatures while simultaneously allowing them to create more stable lives for themselves. This insightful experience allowed me to understand how the power of communities and people are ultimately what will help drive conservation efforts.
It is for these lessons that I am forever grateful for my time at Gili Shark Conservation, now leaving with incredibly valuable insights alongside bonds to last a lifetime.
