THE FINSTITUTE
THE FINSTITUTE
We are a student-led, James Cook University-affiliated shark conservation consortium supporting Indonesian and Australian shark conservation initiatives.
OUR GOALS
Change global perspectives surrounding sharks
Sharks continue to be seen as “mindless man-eating machines” all over the world….we will use our international student body to help educate and spread awareness about the crucial role they play in maintaining ocean health.
Stay up to date with the latest elasmobranch research and news
Bridge the gap between studies and action.
Why shouldn’t we students put into action what we learn in our course while we are in school? This club will enable JCU students to take their learning outside of the classroom so that they can make a difference.
Connect shark conservation initiatives with scientific resources
As the world’s leading school for Marine Biology studies, JCU houses a wealth of resources and passionate students who can accelerate and amplify the impact of existing conservation missions.
Learn about Indonesian culture and how to work collaboratively with international organisations.
Support local and global Indonesian shark conservation initiatives through hands on projects and seminars
PURPOSE
The FINstitute is the glue…
Yes. The glue. With so many amazing independent shark conservation initiatives that already exist working in parallel with each other, we aim to support the work of existing organisations to accelerate and amplify these missions collectively.
Our partnered organisations have years of experience in the field and with the local communities….we do not need another independent group; we need to elevate these independent groups and make our impact matter.
THE PLAN
Curate a list of 3-5 Indonesian shark conservation
Organisations and establish working agreements.
Have each organisation give our club 1 project that they need to be completed by the end of the semester.
Designate 3-5 club members to work together on each project for the semester.
Present semester project to JCU and partnered organisations.
Repeat steps 2-5 every semester
WHY INDONESIA?
#1 LARGEST SHARK FISHING MARKET IN THE WORLD
Indonesia is the #1 largest fishing industry in the world, catching an average of 106,000 sharks per year. With our proximity to Indo, we feel our efforts are best focused here to have the biggest impact possible.
THE PROBLEM ISN’T THE FISHERMEN…ITS THE DEMAND
Shark fishing has historically enabled hundreds of Indonesian fishers to support their families due to the steady demand for shark products. Our partnered organisations aim to help break generational shark fishing by providing alternative incomes to these people.
“80% of the species identified in Indonesian markets are either considered ENDANGERED, VULNERABLE or NEAR THREATENED.”