COMMUNITY: SAVING THE BLUE
INTRODUCTION
Sharks and rays are often feared, loathed, hunted, or discarded by no fault of their own, and are in desperate need of advocacy. They are often overlooked and under- appreciated, and Saving the Blue are here to inspire you to do the opposite. Saving the Blue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that let their results do the talking. Their published, meaningful research combined with their impactful educational and creative out- reach leaves little to the imagination. Saving the Blue keeps things simple; They inspire, educate and deliver results.
SAVING THE BLUE RESEARCH
Saving the Blue’s main research location is Andros, which is the largest island within The Bahamas. Andros offers an impressive array of diverse and healthy habitats, and is home to a broad variety of life. Andros is largely unexplored, with limited scientific surveys and understanding, particularly in regard to its sharks and rays. Saving the Blue’s research focuses on misunderstood animals, including the critically endan- gered smalltooth sawfish, vulnerable silky sharks, globally endangered Caribbean reef sharks and globally critically endangered great and scalloped hammerheads. Disturbing pressures such as overfishing, bycatch, and illegal harvest are ongoing for many of these animals, however there is hope, the Bahamas is a shark sanctu- ary meaning no shark can be targeted or killed in Bahamian waters. However, it’s complicated as many of the animals Saving the Blue works with migrate in and out of the islands so although safe inside of the sanctuary, they are open to being fished outside of them. This is just one example as to why we need to learn more about the sharks and rays of these islands, perhaps they spend their entire lives safe in a sanctuary, but perhaps not.
SAVING THE BLUE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Saving the Blue regularly provide creative, educational opportunities in marine sci- ence to the public, including local marine students and the international communi- ty. In addition, each year they sponsor a number of minority groups, youth, service members, and veterans and their families. Saving the Blue frequently visit schools to teach the next generation about green living, reusable alternatives, and environ- mentally friendly choices. And within the last 24 months have written, published and gifted over 4,000 books to the young children.
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