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Register a Shark-Friendly Business
Your business is marine related, discourages shark
harvest & does not sell shark products

Register a Shark-Free Marina
Your marina prohibits shark harvest.
Catch and release shark fishing is permitted
  • Guy Harvey
  • Celebrity

Shark-Free Marinas Brief

Organized as a cooperative by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, the Mote Marine Laboratory,  The Humane Society of the United States, and FishPond USA,  the Shark Free Marina Initiative  (www.sharkfreemarinas.com) aims to reduce shark mortality worldwide by discouraging the landing of sharks and encouraging catch-and-release of sharks in sport fishing, while rewarding forward-thinking marinas that participate in this program. Additional supporting and organizing organizations include the Pegasus Foundation, Humane Society International, the Pew Environment Group, Fishpond USA and the Fisheries Conservation Foundation.  
The SFMI is a totally voluntary program, that works in tandem with marinas, businesses and fishermen to increase the awareness of the need to protect our sharks and oceans. It is directed by Managing Director Luke Tipple ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), and Patricia H. Ragan, Operations Director ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

There are two different levels of commitment for an interested marina. It can either become a “Shark-Free Marina” that completely prohibits the landing of all sharks on its docks or a “Shark-Friendly Marina” — a facility that discourages the killing and landing of sharks and does not promote any activity that could harm sharks.  There are currently more 130 marinas participating worldwide, including 96 in the United States, 24 in Fiji, and 6 in the Bahamas. 

The enduring strength of this innovative and unique program is that it brings together under the banner of shark protection the diverse interests of recreational fishing, scientific inquiry and expertise, commercial interests and animal protection and conservation.  It has been endorsed by noted Cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, Alec Baldwin, Nigel Barker, Elizabeth Berkeley, Bill Maher, Conservation Writer, Ted Williams, and Legendary Guitarist, Slash.  

As the world famous artist, ocean conservationist and fisherman, Dr. Guy Harvey has said (see attached video DVD), “I encourage marinas and anglers to join with me and the Shark Free Marina Initiative to help protect sharks and our oceans. Our world needs sharks.”    Or link to the video at www.sharkfreemarina.com/florida . 
Also, please view, Guy Harvey’s outstanding new film, This is Your Ocean: Sharks.  The trailer may be viewed at http://www.thisisyourocean.com/thefilm.html or a demo video may be viewed at http://vimeo.com/32198573.

SFMI is supported by

  • ghof
  • pegasus
  • fishpond
  • autoswag
  • cei
  • fcf
  • project-aware
  • sport-diver
  • sport-fishing

Our Work & Members

Registered 'Shark-Free' marinas participate in a voluntary program under which they agree to prohibit sharks from being landed at their facility. Working in tandem with businesses and fishermen we develop sensible protocols under which threatened species of shark are permitted to recover and replenish their populations. We also work with policy makers at local, state and federal levels to create and enforce community conscious policy and increase the awareness of the need to protect our sharks and our ocean.

Fishing from a Shark-Free Marina

As a fisherman you should know what it means to launch from an SFMI registered marina. Catching non-endangered shark is not illegal or prohibited however our members encourage sport shark-fishermen to exercise catch-and-release techniques. Some SFMI registered marinas are also access points for tagging programs and catch & release shark-fishing tournaments. Catch-and-release fishing techniques represent a significant step in protecting valuable marine resources as well as providing valuable data for research organizations.

Why SFMI is important

Currently between 60 and 100 million sharks are slaughtered worldwide each year. This massive cull of apex predators is unsustainable and poses a serious threat to the oceans health. The recreational fishery in the United States alone kills tens of thousands of sharks per year, removing them from an already struggling breeding population. Worldwide, the numbers are staggering. Shark-Free Marinas will reduce the mortal take of sharks and encourage responsible use of our ocean.

Who We Are

The Shark-Free Marina Initiative is a project of the The Pegasus Foundation and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. It is strongly supported by Fishpond Inc., Mote Marine Laboratory, The Fisheries Conservation Foundation and the Cape Eleuthera Institute.