Grant Profiles

Project AWARE Foundation grants support conservation of underwater environments, both marine and freshwater and are awarded to a variety of nonprofit organizations, institutions and individuals worldwide.

Grant program funding is made possible solely by donations from divers and water enthusiasts involved with Project AWARE. Over the years the grant program has assisted many excellent community conservation projects which have made a significant difference to local people and their marine environments.

Highlighted here, you'll find just a few of the fantastic projects Project AWARE has supported globally.  

Fiji Takes Lead in Shark Free Marina Initiative

Marina's and resorts across Fiji are taking the lead in shark conservation.  The International Shark-Free Marina Initiative works with marinas, boaters and fishermen to develop policy designed to protect a vital component of the oceans health, our sharks. Thanks to funding from Project AWARE Foundation and under the leadership of Stuart Gow from Matava- Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, 13 marinas and fishing charters on Fiji's tropical islands have already signed their commitment.

The Shark Free Marinas program encourages shark conservation at sport fishing and resort marinas by prohibiting the landing of any shark at the participating facility. Fishermen are not allowed to bring caught sharks into the participating marina for any purpose.

Stuart Gow, Matava - Fiji said, "By asking vessels not to arrive at marinas with sharks we hope to encourage responsible sport fishing and ensure the future of healthy reefs and our islands.  We look forward to signing up more marinas and charters in the coming months."

Joanne Marston, Asia Pacific Manager for Project AWARE added, "It's great to see so many marinas and fishing charters practice responsible fishing practices and pledge their commitment to shark conservation."

Antioxidant Status of Bleached and Non-bleached Anemonia Viridis From Turkish Coastlines

According to the results of a recent study, there is no correlation between the antioxidant enzyme activities and the bleaching event of Anemonia viridis from Turkish coastlines. The results of this study supported by Project AWARE Foundation were presented at the 39th CIESM (The Mediterranean Science Commission) Congress which was held in Venice-ITALY during May 11-14, 2010 (read more ...) 

Good News for Mantas and Turtles, Australia

Did you know the east Australian population of manta rays is a newly identified species? Once thought to be a single species worldwide, recent research indicates there are two species of manta ray. And the east Australian population is the newly identified species. Project AWARE is funding community involvement for the first ever in depth investigation of the east Australian manta ray population. Divers are encouraged to get their underwater gear ready and take photos of these marine giants.

The Project Manta University of Queensland study takes place at Lady Elliot Island, North Stradbroke Island and Solitary Islands Marine Park over the next three years.  Data gathered is vital for effective conservation and management of the newly identified species.

So far 329 manta rays have been positively identified with over 120 animals sighted at least twice, divers can visit Project Manta on Facebook to get involved.

Further north the Sea Turtle Foundation will be tagging turtles this holiday season to gather valuable data on the effects of climate change to sea turtle populations in the northern Great Barrier Reef.  Project AWARE funded the tags and equipment for the project which will help resource managers plan for the impacts of global warming, as well as other threats to the species. The nesting population on Milman Island, Queensland will be studied January to February 2010.

Beach Patrols Stop Turtle Poaching, Indonesia

Marcy Summers of The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation, Sulawesi Indonesia has already reported their progress. "Project AWARE's assistance has enabled us to fully implement a new sea turtle conservation and awareness program in the region of Tompotika. The beach patrols in these areas have been effective in almost completely halting turtle poaching. We know we have already protected over 125 turtle mothers and more than 10,000 eggs. We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of Project AWARE Foundation."  More exciting projects include loggerhead sea turtle research in the Eastern Indian Ocean; habitat use of bottle nose dolphins and tracking of wild breeding female dugongs.   

Reef Restoration, Belize

Coral reef restoration in Belize might become a reality thanks in part to a grant from Project AWARE Foundation. Along with the Belize Fisheries Department, Friends of Nature and researcher Lisa Carne, Project AWARE is following a coral relocation project in this Central American country. Using a protocol developed by Dr. Harold Hudson, a Reef Restoration Biologist at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Florida, USA, 23 small (5-45 centimetre/2-18 inch) Elkhorn coral fragments were relocated and attached to dead coral heads in Laughing Bird Caye National Park.

To date, nearly all of the coral fragments are flourishing in their new environment. After rapidly growing their initial anchor points, the corals have adhered to their substrates and even these small fragments are clearly providing juvenile fish and urchin habitat.

If successful, this restoration method has tremendous implications for other reefs damaged from hurricanes, ship groundings or anchoring. Because much of Belize's economy relies on marine tourism and commercial seafood products, restoration projects have long-term financial and conservation benefits.

Tracking Great White Sharks, South Africa

A female great white shark tagged in waters off South Africa has completed the first known transoceanic trip for an individual shark. According to Swiss marine biologist Michael Scholl, leader of the South African White Shark Trust (WST), Ramón Bonfil of the New York based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and a number of other organisations, the shark travelling more than 20,000 kilometres to the coast of Australia and back again.  

The epic odyssey of Nicole (named after the Australian actress and white shark lover Nicole Kidman) has astounded researchers and will change long-held notions about how these charismatic predators move through the world's oceans. Nicole not only travelled farther than any other known shark but completed the trip from South Africa to Australia and back in just less than nine months, the fastest return migration of any swimming marine organism known. 

With funding from Project AWARE, Bonfil and his colleagues from the Marine and Coastal Management Department of South Africa and the White Shark Trust attached a satellite tag to Nicole's dorsal fin as part of a large study on white shark migrations. The tags - specifically known as pop-up archival tags - record data on time, temperature, water depth, and light levels as the shark moves through its habitat. On a pre-recorded date, the tag detaches from the shark and floats to the surface, where it transmits its data sets to a researcher's computer via satellite. 

Protecting Sharks, Brazil 

While the white shark was listed as an endangered species in the waters off of the state of São Paulo in 1998, studies on Brazil's coastal sharks have since been few and far between. In part through Project AWARE grant funding, Projeto Cação recently undertook a research program focused on collecting biological and fishery data as well as assessing any species susceptible to overfishing.

Thus far, the project has identified several species exploited or caught as bycatch without any regulatory measures in the Southeast of Brazil. This is especially important as the area acts as nursery ground for at least five shark species, four of which are listed in the IUCN Red List 2004: Brazilian sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon lalandii), scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna).

Project members hope the data collected will be used for direct shark nursery conservation by providing information critical to the creation of new marine protected areas. Once completed, the group will submit a complete report to the Brazilian Environment Agency (IBAMA), the Fishery Institute of São Paulo State and fishing communities involved in the project.