Patrons
We're extremely grateful for the support of all our patrons:
Steve Backshall
Wildlife Adventurer, Steve Backshall, became a Shark Trust patron in 2014. He also acts as ambassador for our No Limits? campaign, which aims to stop uncontrolled shark fishing.
I’ve had the great privilege of many hours underwater with sharks of various shapes and sizes. Every encounter has been a true wonder, and I have learned to not only respect, but deeply love these majestic, exciting creatures. And yet, this may be an experience the next generation will not be able to share...
The EU is a global fishing power: of the 280,000 tonnes of sharks reported landed globally in 2012 (roughly equivalent to the weight of 21,000 double decker buses), the EU fleet was responsible for almost 40%. The vast majority of these landings were caught in the Atlantic Ocean. Landings simply can’t go on increasing at this rate without consequences.
My reaction to this devastation is first of all visceral and emotional. These animals have been around on the planet for over 400 million years. They have more that is unusual and fascinating about their biology than any other animal group, and are the most unfairly maligned of all creatures. However, the reaction must also be scientific. If the world’s oceans have had nearly half a billion years with sharks as the apex predators, then the delicate balance of its food webs must rely on their presence, in complex ways we cannot possibly predict.
Lose the sharks, the mighty, mysterious lords of the deep, and our planet’s oceans would be infinitely poorer places – and that’s why I’m supporting the Shark Trust’s No Limits? campaign.
Related Links:
► Find out more about our No Limits? Campaign
Nick Baker
Wildlife Presenter, Nick Baker, has travelled to the wildest parts of the planet in search of the most incredible creatures. Perhaps best known for presenting The Really Wild Show on Children’s BBC, Nick has been a long standing patron of the Shark Trust and ambassador for our Great Eggcase Hunt Project.
I think back to the first time I found a ‘mermaid’s purse’ on a Sussex beach, it was the beginning of a journey, one fuelled by a natural, innate curiosity. When my grandfather who accompanied me on our regular beachcombing forays told me it was the eggcase of some kind of shark, my 8 year old mind started pinging!
Holding this honey-coloured treasure in the palm of my hand, I savoured its rubbery feel, and its alien perfection. I absolutely loved the curly tendrils that emanated from each corner and when I found the little slit through which a diminutive shark had emerged, my imagination kicked in. Looking out into the uninviting brown water of the English Channel, I had never really thought about what might be living out there just below the surface - I guess up until that point the idea that we had sharks in our waters had never really crossed my mind.
I found many similar objects over the next few years; some black - looking like something Batman might have dropped from his utility belt - others various browns and tans and once I even found one with a tiny, barely alive Smallspotted Catshark writhing around in its embryonic fluid.
These were my natural treasures, and it was exciting to know that I had a collection produced by different species of skates, rays and a couple of small sharks all found in our waters. I set about collecting, identifying and hoarding as many as I could. Sharks, their cousins and their eggcases were special to me.
These natural vessels, it turns out are so much more than treasure in the beachcombers pocket they’re special to the Shark Trust too. Not just as beautiful natural curios but they’re vital in helping find these elusive elasmobranchs. Who would have thought you could track fish this way? For that is what they’re doing - by collating the presence of these eggcases around our shores, each of which is unique and distinctive to the species, the Trust is able to get a handle on which species are breeding, where and in what sort of numbers - all without getting wet!
Information vital in understanding the state of shark, skate and ray populations can be gleaned from these. This simple survey is a great way of helping the Shark Trust and gives a focus to a visit to the shore at any time of the year. So if you’ve stepped out, identified and filled in your Great Eggcase Hunt recording form you should be proud that the products of your strandline adventures and natural curiosity have all directly helped the Shark Trust and more importantly, those little understood enigmatic elasmobranchs.
Related Links:
► Get involved with our Great Eggcase Hunt
Loyd Grossman (CBE)
Loyd Grossman is a long-standing patron of the Shark Trust. Well known for programs such as Through the Keyhole and MasterChef, as well as his own brand of cooking sauces.
I agreed to be a Patron of the Trust because as a keen scuba diver I have an increasing appreciation and wonder for the beauty, complexity and mystery of the underwater environment.
The demonisation of sharks in the news media and popular culture is doing damage to the oceans: sharks are not only fascinating in their own right but help to make the whole thing work. The attack on shark populations is fuelled by the twin evils of ignorance and greed.
Organisations like the Shark Trust play a vital role in informing and enlightening the public and policy makers. Through its work with the Shark League and the European Elasmobranch Association the Trust also supports international efforts to protect endangered shark populations and to help save our oceans.
Related Links:
► Get Involved With Shark Conservation
Gordon Ramsay (OBE)
Gordon Ramsay joined the Shark Trust as a patron in 2010 and is a supporter of our Stop Shark Finning Campaign. In 2011 he presented - SHARKBAIT - a documentary raising awareness about the shark fin trade.
In 2010 I had the opportunity to make a programme called SHARKBAIT, which exposed the cruel practice of shark finning as well as the often secretive and destructive industry that surrounds it. Up until then I had been unaware of the completely horrific and totally unnecessary practice, which could lead to the extinction of sharks in the future. As a result and ever since, I have been a patron of the Shark Trust, who do great work in raising awareness and campaigning for the protection of these beautiful creatures. I'm honoured to support this cause and hope that together we can all do what we can to help these endangered species remain in our waters for future generations.
In the video below Gordon Ramsay talks to Shark Trust Founder and Trustee Sarah Fowler about the effect shark fin soup is having on sharks.
Related Links:
► Find out more about our Stop Shark Finning Campaign
Other Patrons
We're extremely grateful for the ongoing support of the following long-standing patrons:
- John Boyle - Wildlife Film-Maker
- Leonard Compagno - Leading Shark Systematist
- Marc Dando - Wildlife Illustrator & Graphic Designer
- Bob Earll - Marine Conservationist
- Ian Fergusson - BBC Weather Reader & Shark Specialist
- Mariella Frostrup - Broadcaster & Journalist
- John Gummer MP - Politician
- Monty Halls - Adventurer & Marine Biologist
- Martha Holmes - Wildlife Film-Maker
- Kate Humble - Wildlife Presenter
- Sir David Jason (OBE) - Actor
- Simon Rogerson - Dive Magazine
- Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch - Underwater Photographer & Author
- Michaela Strachan - Wildlife Presenter
- Valerie Taylor - Professional Diver & Underwater Cinematographer
Related Links:
► About Our Work
► How Can You Help
