Love The Oceans’ baseline data collected in 2014 indicates that the small-scale, artisanal fisheries operating out of our local bays do not always adhere to current legal requirements regarding both species and catch size. By collating data on the current fisheries practices in our area Love the Oceans hopes to properly assess the sustainability of the current fisheries and eventually determine a minimum landing size for individual species of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. While current practices are often unsustainable and at times upsetting, as endangered species such as sharks and manta rays are often landed and killed, it is not Love The Oceans place to interfere: Love The Oceans is a research organisation and our purpose is to observe and collect data adhering to our fisheries methodology. Our goal is to collect the data needed to prove that the current practices are unsustainable and to work with the local communities to end these practices.
Much of our work involves interaction with animals as a result of data collection. Love The Oceans is committed to handling animal interactions ethically. We do not work with any animals in captivity and do not harm or interfere with any wild animals. We abide by CITES protection with listed species and have our own Code of Conduct when dealing with wild animals, not only for the health of that individual but for the safety of our volunteers as well. We are also a Partner of the World Cetacean Alliance – the world’s largest Partnership working to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans). Through cooperation, the Partners of the World Cetacean Alliance aim to conserve and protect cetaceans and their habitats in the world’s oceans, seas and rivers, to ensure their continued health and survival.