Micronesian Shark Foundation

The Micronesian Shark Foundation is a non-profit based in Palau working to help protect, research, and conserve sharks in Palau. Recently Palau declared itself as a Shark Refuge or "Haven." Tova Harel the founder and director of the organization thanks students from the Boston Public School, Warren Prescott for their efforts to offset another marine conservation organization, Oceanic Society, CO2 generated from air travel. The students gave up red meat for two weeks to help offset the CO2 from a group of Oceanic ecotourists that visited Palau to learn about coral reef ecology and support the Micronesian Shark Foundation. Here Tova talks about the MSF shark education program that visited 5th graders in the schools of Palau to help raise awareness about shark ecology.

The following presentation was given by Micronesian Shark Foundation founder Tova H. Bornovski during Shark Week 2015.

The Micronesian Shark Foundation continued it's pilot education program throughout the Micronesian region.

The program has been very successful in Palau for the past years and so the idea was born of expanding to other islands of the Micronesian Region.

The first island chosen was Yap, a state of Federated States of Micronesia. Even though Yap is less than 300 miles away from Palau, there is a vast difference between the two islands; economically, traditionally and education-wise.

The children of Yap do not get many visiting school programs such as the Shark school program.

Meet Finny, the funny shark that tells shark jokes, dances and shakes children hands, and Shark Ranger Tim, the serious guy that tells the children the importance of sharks to our reefs and eco-system.

Tova Harel Bornovski, the president of the Micronesian Shark Foundation, Finny and Tim flew in early December to the islands of Yap.

The group visited all fifth graders in Yap and was welcomed warmly by Yap children. Finny made an entrance to the classes and the children loved him. The shark cartoon book was a big hit and the children eyes sparkled when they opened the book.

Tova met with senators and legislative members to emphasize the importance of passing the law of shark protection in Yap and declaring it a Shark Sanctuary.

With the future in the children and the support of the legislation branch, the Micronesian Shark Foundation is hoping to cover more areas of its region with shark protection.