ECOTOURISM // tourism centered around the natural observation of ocean wildlife is beneficial for many reasons; the promotion of valuing live sharks over harvested sharks, the promotion of natural encounters over aquarium or artificial encounters, and the promotion of changes in perception toward a more positive societal view of sharks. However, there is the potential for damage as well. It is important that any observation of wildlife be done responsibly and sustainably. In this video you can see experienced guide @pierrick_moana utilizing a barrier item to ensure guest safety with a curious oceanic white tip shark. The understanding of shark behavior is critical in these situations as the potential for a negative human-shark interaction must be analyzed and avoided. This particular shark persisted in making direct contact even with barrier items and so the observation was ended. It is always important to know the limit and remove yourself from the situation before the limit is reached. Here at MMF we work diligently to help educate and train local tourism operators on preventative safety, shark behavior, and trauma response. 📸 @igrassetphoto

Thank you to everyone that joined us at the Blast x MMF Party at Coco Beach in support of our efforts. The proceeds from this event have gone towards funding our ongoing parata and Tuamotus tiger shark studies by equipping fishermen with tools necessary to act as citizen scientists. Geared with go pros and retractable poles for in water submersion and safe data collection, local recreational and commercial fishermen who work in areas frequented by tiger sharks and oceanic white tip sharks will be able to document the sharks they encounter to contribute to photo identification databases while pairing environmental and behavioral data with sighting trends. In this effort we can better understand and promote positive cohabitation in areas of high human-shark overlap.  We will also be hosting underprivileged teens from Mo’orea to join us onboard for a crash course in field research and to experience the rich ecosystems that surrounds them. Thank you again for joining us for an incredible event and for supporting a community of shark protectors. ✊🏼🦈

Repost from @zimydakid • X MAN OF THE SEA X Here’s the Shark part of my recent film Man Of The Sea starring @pierrick_moana and created in association with @maomanafoundation (full film is on my YT channel). Sharks are key species to the health of the oceans. They are on top of the food chain and keep the entire ecosystem healthy as they eat dead, weak and ill fish which prevents diseases from spreading. Due to humans, 70% of shark populations have disappeared between 1970 and 2018 mainly due to overfishing, bycatch (the incidental capture of non-target species), culling (killing sharks to « protect » people which is a total nonsense) and pollution (sharks can die after finding themselves entangled in drifting nets or other plastic pollution). Without sharks, fish populations would grow and they would starve themselves by eating all of their resources resulting in the disappearance of fish as well. Right after that, coral reefs would die as well as algae and bacteria would grow and kill them by not allowing them to photosynthesis anymore... In summary, if sharks disappear, the entire ocean’s ecosystems would collapse quickly after them. With up to 80% of the world’s oxygen coming from the ocean, we simply can’t live without the oceans, and, therefore, without sharks either... In this short film, you’ll see us touching sharks in order to redirect them. When sharks come too close to us, we have to push them away for safety. We’re in their territory meaning that some individuals might feel in competition with us or might even think that we are a source of food. Therefore, they often come close to us in order to test us, to communicate or simply because they are curious. If you want to see the entire film, go to my YT channel (link is in my bio). Also wanted to say a big thanks to fellow underwater cinematographers @camgrantphotography and @hamdanchowdhury for allowing me to use a couple of shots they captured with @pierrick_moana. 🦈🦈🦈

Repost from @pierrick_moana • I grew up by the ocean with all its beautiful sea animals, playing with the waves, enjoying every moment with sharks, whales, amazing creatures, catching the food I need, working from my passion and for the ocean. The ocean is essential for our planet and is everything for me, it is our duty to protect it! I am happy to meet on my way a Ocean defender and talented videographer @zimydakid who decide to tell my story. Check @zimydakid YouTube channel for the full movie / link on his bio 🔥🔥 #tahiti #oceanlover #protectocean #shark #sharklover #stopsharkfinning #whale #humpbackwhale #tigershark #protectsharks #maomanafoundation #mooreamoanatours

Photo of a female tiger shark taken by @zimydakid during our film project which will be on social media tomorrow🔥. This area is our hot spot to study the tiger shark with a minimum of 5 sharks and a maximum of 12 sharks observed while diving. The tiger shark is a migratory species but it can be observed all year round in this area. Tiger sharks are generally solitary but here we can see how they work together to get their point of interest. In addition, the amount of juveniles is higher than in all the other places we use. This area is really mysterious and our biologist @kokocuvier will have to spend many years there to understand our favorite animal 🦈💙.

Repost from @zimydakid • X MAN OF THE SEA TRAILER X This is the story of a man, @pierrick_moana, that has always lived in total connection with the ocean and all the amazing creatures that are living within this mysterious world. From the gigantic Humpback Whales, to the great Tiger Sharks and the different threats that they are facing, this short film will take you to the deepest parts of French Polynesia and what truly makes these islands, lost in the South Pacific Ocean, a place like nowhere else ! This is just the trailer, so stay tuned for the full movie that is coming very soon !!! Entirely filmed on breath hold and edited by myself, starring @pierrick_moana in association with @maomanafoundation 🐋🦈🌊

Repost from @pierrick_moana • Understanding how to communicate with marine animals and especially sharks is one of our main goal . Every day is a different day, the changing parameters, reef sharks or pelagic sharks, bad weather or good weather, visibility, current, behavior and personality of the day etc ..... Shark behavior can also be different on a daily basis depending on their personality, their mood,the number of sharks or the different stimuli in the water. Sharks are fascinating 💙 In the pictures taken by @camgrantphotography , I touch this lady to keep her away from us. Touch is a big part of communication but should be done by experienced divers. . . . #shark #sharkconservation #sharkeducation #sharklover #helpshark #stopsharkfinning #maomanafoundation

Repost from @pierrick_moana • I was making noise with my hands to attract and help this injured silky shark who get many hooks and Lines from fisherman activities . Unfortunately she was to shy and I can t get the chance to help her that day. My friend @spoon_ocean_photography get this shot 🙏 #tahiti #shark #pelagicshark #silkyshark #stopkillshark #savesharks #saveocean .

The great hammerhead is the largest of the nine identified species of this shark. It can grow up to 20 feet . Their wide-set eyes give them a better visual range than most other sharks. And by spreading their highly specialized sensory organs over their wide, mallet-shaped head, they can more thoroughly scan the ocean for food. Video taken @kokocuvier of this mysterious species swimming peacefully in one of the biggest shark sanctuary .💙 🦈 Free diver: @kokocuvier @fakewhiteshark @pierrick_moana . . . #frenchpolynesia #shark #greathammerhead #protectsharks #stopsharkfinning #savesharks

Our first adult male tiger shark observation! A rare sight for tiger shark hotspots used by recreational divers, a sexually mature male gave us a visit on our last survey. Telling a boy shark from a girl shark is quite simple, just look for claspers 👉🏼 two white, finger like appendages just behind the pelvic fins on the ventral side of the shark. We have observed a single juvenile male (~1.25m TL) in all of our surveys starting 2015, making this very exciting! 🎥 @bucketlistjourneycouple

Repost from @kokocuvier • When IDing tiger sharks we use a composite of images; left profile, right profile, close ups of both sides of the dorsal, and the counter shade line around the head from gills to gills. As the tigers reach sexual maturity and continue their life afterwards they can acquire multiple new scars and morphological differences that may vary from the last time we’ve seen them (as tigers are typically nomadic you can go quite some time between repeat observations of an individual). It’s for this reason we make sure to get clean close ups of dorsal patterns as no matter how much the dorsal gets shredded or fuses back together after injury, or as the shark grows and the proportions stretch, the pattern remains ultimately the same and unique. A tiger shark thumbprint 💫

Be the eyes and the guardians of ocean The ocean is essential for our planet and human life. The marine animals it shelters allow the ocean to be healthy, but its balance is fragile and it is our duty to take care of it. Hopefully 2021 will bring more ocean defenders. Humans have to open their eyes on what is essential for our planet . We are exited for this new year of research , conservation and education to support and protect sharks in French Polynesia . Sharks are essential for the marine ecosystem and the Ocean. Join our team 💙🦈 Picture by @zimydakid with @immadiscoveler 🤙🏻 . . . #2021 #frenchpolynesia #shark #sharkprotection #sharkconservation #sharkresearch #sharklover #stopsharkfishing #stopsharkfinsoup #saveocean