RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION

Volunteer with the Shark & Marine Research Institute in Gansbaai, South Africa, and gain practical experience in shark research, marine conservation and field-based data collection

SMRI was established through a deep commitment to great white shark research and conservation. Our long-term white shark monitoring work remains an important part of our history, and the results of this research are currently being prepared for publication.

However, as white shark presence in the Western Cape has changed, our programme has naturally evolved. Today, volunteers support research on a wider range of shark and elasmobranch species, helping us collect valuable baseline data on species diversity, abundance, movement patterns, habitat use and population health.

This programme is ideal for students, graduates, early-career scientists, aspiring marine biologists and conservation-minded travellers who want to gain real-world experience in a working marine research environment. Volunteers may assist with shark observation, dorsal fin identification, ethical handling and tagging techniques, BRUV surveys (when active), data entry, marine debris surveys, rocky shore surveys, outreach projects and educational activities.

The programme is weather-dependent and no two weeks are exactly the same. Some days may involve sea trips, shark cage diving vessel support or research boat activities, while others may focus on data processing, practical training, conservation work, lectures, outreach or local environmental projects.

Our goal is to provide a personal, educational and career-building experience while contributing to research that supports the long-term protection of sharks and the marine ecosystems they depend on.