When marine biologist Dr. Amina Juma received her first grant from the Save Our Seas Foundation in 2022, she launched a groundbreaking study on the migration patterns of endangered wedgefish along the East African coast—work that has since informed new fishing regulations in Tanzania. Her project was made possible by a funding call that continues to empower scientists and conservationists worldwide: the Save Our Seas Foundation’s biennial grant program, which supports research, conservation, and education efforts focused on some of the ocean’s most vulnerable species. These include sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes, and chimaeras—collectively known as marine chondrichthyans—many of which face extinction due to overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. With an average award of $25,000 per year, the foundation funds selected projects for up to three years, providing not just financial support but a global platform for impact.
This funding cycle matters because marine chondrichthyans play a critical role in maintaining the balance of ocean ecosystems. Yet, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, more than one-third of all shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction. The Save Our Seas Foundation steps into this gap by backing on-the-ground science that translates into real-world policy and public awareness. It’s not enough to study these animals—the foundation requires grantees to engage in public education, whether through media features, school programs, or community talks. In 2023, for example, grantee Carlos Mendez in Mexico used his award to launch a bilingual documentary series that reached over 50,000 viewers on social media, shifting local perceptions of shark conservation.
What sets this program apart is its emphasis on collaboration and visibility. Successful applicants don’t work in isolation—they partner with the SOSF Communications team to share their findings with a global audience. This ensures that research doesn’t gather dust in academic journals but instead fuels advocacy, inspires action, and informs decision-makers. From tracking the nursery grounds of giant guitarfish in the Red Sea to training young conservationists in Indonesia, the funded projects span continents but share a common mission: to protect species that have survived millions of years of evolution, only to now face their greatest threat—humans.
As the next application window approaches in 2024, the foundation is poised to amplify more voices, support more fieldwork, and expand its network of ocean defenders. For researchers like Dr. Juma, the grant was more than funding—it was validation, visibility, and a lifeline for the species she’s dedicated her life to protecting. And for the oceans, it’s a ripple of hope that grows with every project launched, every policy changed, and every child who learns why sharks matter.