In this exclusive Zoom interview, Jeff Goodman, Scubaverse Editor-at-Large, chats to Esther Jacobs, Social Media and Conservation Manager at Oceans Research.

Originally from Scotland and working in marketing and advertising, Esther left for pastures new almost 10 years ago, to pursue a career working with sharks in South Africa.

For the first few years, Esther worked with a white shark cage diving operator, running their internship, teaching visitors about the white sharks, and collecting valuable data on their behaviours.

After having her first daughter, Esther volunteered part-time with White Shark Africa and then started an ocean conservation initiative called Keep Fin Alive. The goals of Keep Fin Alive are to change the common misconception of sharks, and drive more attention to the threats facing our oceans.

Five years ago, Esther joined the team at the marine research company, Oceans Research, to manage their social media and bring some of the Keep Fin Alive community outreach projects into their field research program, for the interns to get involved with.

Keep Fin Alive has grown a lot in the last six years, and has ambassadors from all over the globe, helping to spread awareness of the plight of our oceans.

Esther, through Keep Fin Alive, partnered with Go Dive Mossel Bay a couple of years ago to implement a NAUI qualification called Clean Ocean Divers, with a mission statement of “Empowering our diving community to preserve and conserve our coastline, by providing the knowledge, skills and resources to keep our ocean healthy and marine life safe.” Divers who undertake the qualification learn how to safely and respectfully remove debris from the reefs, and also help to analyse the findings for an ongoing research project. The data will be used nationally to establish problem areas with high fishing gear snagging rates, with the hopes of discouraging anglers from fishing at these sites.

Data from the partnership’s coastal clean up projects has already led to the establishment of butt bins around popular paths, and plastic pollution information boards being erected.

Find out more at www.oceans-research.com.

Rather listen to a podcast? Listen to the audio HERE on the new Scubaverse podcast channel at Anchor FM.