The SharkWise Project

The SharkWise Project Marine Internship aims to empower young people, college students and marine life enthusiasts by giving them hands-on fieldwork experience in Umkomaas, South Africa. The programme will allow for the continuous collection of field data, to monitor the status of shark populations in South Africa and elsewhere, to train local and international aspiring marine scientists and to ultimately guide conservation policies by publishing the research results in peer-review scientific journals. SharkWise Interns work closely with Masters and/or PhD students that are registered at Stellenbosch University. Come help us collect data for postgraduate marine biology research! You will gain experience in scientific data collection like: - Genetic sampling of several shark species (You will learn the importance, procedures and storage of genetic sampling); - Shark fin photo identification (We can identify sharks using the unique notch patterns of their dorsal fins!); - Underwater photogrammetry (the use of lasers to accurately measure the length of sharks and other animals underwater); - Reef biodiversity assessment (Assess the biodiversity of the local reefs and learn how to perform transects, identify species and contribute to a long-term data base). Not Scuba qualified? You can have the best of both worlds! Obtain your Scuba qualification through our collaborator, African Watersports in Umkomaas, while learning how to collect scientific data (not included in the price)! Join us in sunny South Africa between August and November 2022! Or book your stay in advance for 2023. Send your CV and a motivation letter to secure your spot. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions. Natasha@sharkwiseproject.com