Paul von Blerk specializes in electronic shark repellents with the Kwazulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence. He’s worked with the Shark’s Board for 34 years, and for the last couple of decades, he’s dedicated his life to creating and testing an alternative, eco-friendly system that keeps both bathers and sharks safe. Throughout April, Oceans Research assisted Paul in testing an electronic device on our Mossel Bay white sharks, with incredible results.
Esther Jacobs is a passionate conservation storyteller and advocate for nature, originally from Scotland, now residing in South Africa. She is deeply committed to preserving marine ecosystems and has been instrumental in various conservation initiatives. Esther is the founder of Keep Fin Alive, a marine conservation and education campaign with a campaign mascot called Fin; a soft shark on a mission to spread awareness of the catastrophic decline in marine populations due to plastic pollution, overfishing, and other threats. In addition to her advocacy work, Esther heads up Clean Ocean Divers, an NAUI scuba qualification focused on underwater clean-ups to protect marine life from debris and pollution. Her dedication extends to organising coastal clean-ups and developing educational puppet shows to inspire younger audiences about marine conservation. Through school programmes and community engagement, Esther creates environmental awareness and encourages active participation in preserving our oceans.