Tova Harel-Bornovski, founder and director of MSF said that it is expected that there will be more participants this year following the declaration of Palau as a shark haven.
The MSF is a Palauan-based, non-profit foundation which aim is to research and monitor sharks of Palau as well as scientific shark data collection.
Last year, President Johnson Toribiong announced before the United States General Assembly that it is declaring the island-nation as a shark sanctuary.
“This announcement generated shark tourism to Palau,” Bornovski said in an interview.
It’s a secure future for the shark population with the president’s announcement,” Bornovski added.
Sharks are most often misunderstood predator, but due to commercial fishing, there is a fear that this animal will fast disappear.
Bornovski said in Palau, sharks are not aggressive.
Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate. These months generates an opportunity for shark lovers to dive with the world famous sharks of Palau and to participate in data collection.
The one-week program will include shark diving, shark -themed seminars and activities which will be conducted at the Fish N’ Fin dive shop.
The ongoing goal of the MSF is establish a long term program for shark research and study in Palau, to develop scientific tools to protect the prime dive sites of Palau, its goal is to reduce the threats to Palau’s shark population through MSF’s research.
MSF has also tagged sharks and are logging their movements to determine the range of the shark’s habitat in Palau and to record the frequency of their visits to each area.
Bornovski said that there are few destinations in the world that are offering large shark population like Palau.
