Overall objective / activities to be implemented under the grant:
This project aims to address the issue of sharks and Elasmobranchs populations which is rapidly being decreased in the world, for the local communities living around the marine Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) for sharks in the west of Qeshm Island. Based on the field studies, sharks marine CCAs have been identified and introduced around Qeshm Island. Sustainable participation of the local communities and fishermen as the main protectors of sharks is crucial for this project. The most important objectives of the project are establishment of a sharks marine CCA to protect sharks, reduce shark fishing around the CCA by local communities of Derakoo, Goori, Baasaeidoo, Doostakoo, and Kaani Villages, prohibition of fishing and sale of shark products in urban and rural areas of Qeshm Island, assistance and consultation on establishing small home-based businesses to provide sustainable livelihood in order to reduce shark fishing.