Meet David McGuire

We recently connected with David McGuire and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I grew up along the California coastline. Surfing, playing in the water from a very young age. I have an early love for the ocean. I studied marine biology in college and worked at UC Berkeley for several years. My background, though, was studying environmental health and toxicology. But I’m an ocean boy. I’ve sailed through the south pacific several times. In 2001, I went on an expedition to survey coral reefs and encountered hundreds of reef sharks. I got intrigued, though, when I witnessed finned sharks outside of Fakarava. We asked the local guide what was going on, and he told us that the Tuna fishermen sell the fins to the Chinese, but discard the meat becasue it had no market value. It seemed crazy, but at the main port, we encountered a Taiwanese fishing vessel. Shark fins filled the entire rail of this ship.

I took a sabbatical and went back to Fakarava with cameras and highlighted this topic which was still relatively unknown: shark finning. We made a documentary called ‘Shark Stewards of the Reef.’ I quit my job at UC Berkeley and started Shark Stewards in 2006. We then introduced the California shark fin ban. and ultimalely lead to the USA Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act signed into law in 2022. Now we work in policy to protect sharks from overfishing and protect critical habitat through marine protected areas.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Shark Stewards is a non profit and part of the Earth Island Institute located in Berkeley CA. Shark Steward’s mission is to save endangered sharks and rays from overfishing and the shark fin trade, and protect critical marine habitat through the establishment of marine protected areas. Our vision is a healthy ocean with fully protected populations of sharks and rays and 30% of healthy marine areas protected for future generations. Ultimately I consider myself and educator, working with youth, the public, fishermen, other cultures and policy makers to create a healthy ocean.
We work across the Pacific to protect critically endangered sharks like hammerhead sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks from overfishing and the fin trade. Our work includes protecting these sharks from commercial fishing through national and international convention, and focusing on the shark fin trade hubs in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
We also engage the dive and underwater photography community to collect data on sharks and use that to better understand shark populations, movements and apply that towards area -based protection.
We have an exciting new partnership in Baja California that engages fishermen and ecotourism to areas that will protect hammerhead sharks along a migratory pathway, while supporting the local economy.
People can support this community -based shark conservation by visiting these areas and providing economic support through eco-touruism.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think like most people who are ultimately successful and happy in their path is applying their passion and having the discipline to continue despite the pitfalls or sacrifices that have to be made. I am lucky in that I grew u near the ocean and fell in love very early on with the waters, the waves and the marine life. A junior high teacher inspired me to study marine biology and I realized I could have a career that fed my love and passion for marine life. I dedicated a science book to Dr. Siders: Sharks for Kids. As an educator I am inspired to continue my education to share with our volunteers and students, who in turn educate me further and feed me with their enthusiasm. My number one recommendation to youth is to volunteer with an organization with a mission that shares their interest. We are blessed to have had hundreds of volunteers and interns who have driven our mission over the 18 years, and continue to support saving sharks!

We just launched an exciting new youth program called Ocean and Shark Academy with a Title 1 school in Orange County bringing underserved youth to the ocean and learning about the issues threatening ocean wildlife, and how they can help work to protect ocean health. Our annual run for sharks and ocean health fair held in the Newport Back Bay each October raises money to support the kids and educate our community. We are seeking a title sponsor so we can support and grow this program!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The largest challenge protecting sharks is a basic misconception people have of sharks and a misunderstanding of their importance to ocean ecosystems. When people hear the word shark they generally think of shark and shark attack, and not ecological icon or extinction. Sharks are more endangered than dangerous, yet they are killed by the tens of millions, largely for a luxury dish shark fin soup. Reaching across cultures and educating Chinese consumers, like we have Chinese Americans, is critical, so we have a wider understanding on the impact shark fin consumers are having on global populations. Better media messaging, more ocean awareness, and more youth energy are needed to reverse the tide of marine pollution, overfishing and imminent extinction. Our goal is to develop more digital messaging to reach Chinese speakers in China on seafood sourcing and consumption.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
david mcguire/Shark Stewards

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