Lifeline for hammers through education
I’m Lara Fola-Matthews, a marine biologist passionate about the management and conservation of elasmobranchs. For the past few years, I have been studying trends in shark fisheries in Nigeria to provide information on its past and present. Based on previous discussions with coastal dwellers, the scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini is every fisherman’s favourite shark and catch. Due to the value of its fins and the quality of its flesh, the hammers command high value in trade.
Unfortunately, the fishermen are not aware of the conservation status of this specie and have noticed its scarcity in recent times. With assistance from the Save our Seas Foundation, I’m seeking to provide more information on the scalloped hammerhead shark that would help strengthen and improve its conservation. My research would involve observing some aspects of its biology, collating local knowledge about it and then creating vast awareness about the shark and conservation efforts world over.
Yaaay! The Sharks Connect Network is Live! It has been created under the auspice of the “Sea Life Keepers”.
Inception of the Sharks Connect Network at the Citizen Scientist Training Workshop. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews| Sharks Connect Network
In the month of May, members of the Sharks Connect Network along with 25 Volunteers were trained as citizen scientists. These scientists would make up the team that would collect data on local knowledge of the hammerhead shark from fishers, they would also assist to collect and analyse biological data on the shark bimonthly.
Sharks Connect Network Team and volunteers during the Citizen Scientist Toolkit Training Workshop. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews| Sharks Connect Network
Other range of techniques including how to obtain ethical approval for a research project, field survey protocols, field safety, field ethics, data collection (morphometrics, meristic, catch composition, fishing efforts etc.) and tips for productive interview sessions with coastal dwellers were taught.
Interactive session during the citizen scientist training workshop. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews| Sharks Connect Network
It was an exciting and interactive event as the nature of discussions digressed into other topics such as docuseries on sharks, shark week, live handling of sharks etc. which goes further to show how charismatics sharks are.
To celebrate the 2024 World Oceans Day, the Sharks Connect Network engaged a group of young learners at a school in the coastal community of Lagos at the Saints Anglican Primary School, Idado on the 7th of June 2024.
Young learners in an educational engagement with the Shark Connects Network Team. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews | Sharks Connect Network
Students from the Saints Anglican Primary School, Idado, Lagos, chanting Save Our Seas during visit from the Sharks Connect Network team. Video © Lara Fola Matthews
Students from the Saints Anglican Primary School, Idado, Lagos, chanting World Oceans Day during visit from the Sharks Connect Network team. Video © Lara Fola Matthews
The pupils were excited to learn about sharks, with the hammerhead shark in perspective. Using visual aids, they learnt about different types of sharks off the Nigerian Coast, learning their scientific names and local names. They understood why sharks are more at risk to extinction than other fish species in the ocean and the need for their protection. They also learnt about the effects of plastics on sharks, especially microplastics and ways to mitigate this.
Pupils learning about the feeding and reproductive behaviour of sharks. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews| Sharks Connect Network
The class lead requested we should reach out to them for beach-cleaning exercises.
Young learners participating in the Education outreach program on Hammer head sharks. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews | Sharks Connect Network
Lastly, they learnt about climate change and how the green-house gases we emit affect sharks and the ocean entirely. Of course, we didn’t call it a day without rounding up with our baby shark tune.
Teachers and supervising government officials at the young learners education engagement. Photo © Lara Fola-Matthews | Sharks Connect Network
A vote of thanks by two students from Saints Anglican Primary School, Idado, Nigeria following the visit by the Sharks Connect Network team. Video © Lara Fola Matthews