Shark Stewards

What Shark Stewards does

Shark Stewards is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, operating as a project of The Earth Island Institute (EIN 94-2889684). The organization is dedicated to conserving sharks and marine habitat through policy advocacy, regulatory campaigns, community science, and public education. Its core operational model combines grassroots volunteer mobilization with direct policy engagement in legislative and international regulatory forums, including state shark fin trade bans, the federal Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, CITES CoP19 listings, and marine protected area designations such as Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and Papahānaumokuākea.

The organization's programmatic offerings include the Shark Watch community science initiative (contributing sighting data via iNaturalist in partnership with California Academy of Sciences), the Shark Buddies donor program (a $100 donation linking supporters to observed sharks via photo ID), Sharktober sanctuary wildlife expeditions, the Inland Ocean Academy youth education program, and documentary media production. It also operates an e-commerce storefront selling books, apparel, and jewelry made from confiscated illegal fishing hooks, with proceeds supporting youth education and campaigns.

Financially, Shark Stewards is funded primarily through individual donations (with 91% allocated to direct program support), small grants, limited corporate sponsorship, and merchandise sales. With approximately 7 staff and a heavy reliance on volunteer labor, the organization maintains a lean operating structure. Its geographic scope spans California, Hawaii, Baja California, and the Coral Triangle (Indonesia/Malaysia), reflecting a California-anchored but internationally active conservation footprint.

Name

Shark Stewards

Legal name

Shark Stewards

Website

https://sharkstewards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shark Stewards is a Berkeley-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2006, dedicated to conserving sharks and marine habitat through policy advocacy, regulatory campaigns, community science, and public education across the US Pacific coast, Hawaii, Baja, and the Coral Triangle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Shark conservation advocacy
• Marine protected areas
• Shark fin trade ban
• Community science monitoring
• Ocean habitat preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting shark conservation campaigns. 91% of donations go to direct program support. EIN 94-2889684 through Earth Island Institute.
2. Shark Buddy Program: $100 donation connects donors to observed sharks with photo and certificate, supporting data collection and monitoring for mobula rays, sharks and habitat protection.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of shark-themed merchandise including apparel, accessories, and educational books like Sharks for Kids. Proceeds support youth ocean academy.
4. Grants and Corporate Sponsorship: Grant funding from foundations supporting MPA, marine debris and education programs. Some corporate sponsorship for specific campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shark Stewards is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to saving sharks from overfishing and the shark fin trade, and protecting critical marine habitat. It delivers this mission through policy advocacy for shark fin trade bans and marine protected area designations, community science programs (Shark Watch, Shark Buddies) that generate shark sighting data, educational initiatives including the Inland Ocean Academy for underserved youth, wildlife expeditions to marine sanctuaries, and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

Shark Stewards is a nonprofit conservation organization that does not offer a traditional tech product. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs, community science initiatives, merchandise, and educational products. The core programs include the Shark Buddies donation program connecting donors with observed sharks, the Shark Watch community science program, Sharktober sanctuary expeditions, the Inland Ocean Academy for youth education, and media production. The organization also sells merchandise including shark-themed books, apparel (t-shirts, beanies), and jewelry made from confiscated illegal fishing hooks, with proceeds supporting conservation campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shark Buddies: Donor program connecting divers to sharks with photo certificates; $100 donation supports data collection and monitoring for mobula rays, sharks and their habitat.
• Voices of Extinction Campaign
• Inland Ocean Academy

Products and services

• Shark Buddies Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Saved millions of sharks through advocacy and policy work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Earth Island InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShark Stewards is a project of The Earth Island Institute, an environmentalist think tank founded by David Brower in 1983. Earth Island serves as fiscal sponsor providing 501(c)(3) status and administrative support. EIN 94-2889684.
• ScubazoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing professional underwater photography and video content. Generous support and donation of images for Shark Stewards campaigns and communications.
• SORCEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesia-based partner collecting data to expand marine protected area and increase shark protection in Lombok region. Diver-supported ecotourism model for locally-driven long-term shark and habitat protection.
• Turtle Island Restoration NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing coalition partner in campaigns to end driftnet fishing. Collaborated since 2015 to eliminate harmful driftnet fishery from California waters. Joint litigation and advocacy efforts.
• KāpaʻacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative Hawaiian cultural organization including Founding Member Solomon Pili Kaho'ohalahala. Represents cultural heritage and traditional ocean management practices (Pono and Kuleana) in protection of marine monuments.
• Shark Specialist GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group advocating for new CITES listings of sharks and rays at Convention of the Parties.
• Shark Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in advocacy and support for CITES shark and ray listings at international conventions.
• California Academy of SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on citizen science projects mapping biodiversity. Shark Stewards participates in iNaturalist platform projects operated by the Academy.
• University of YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Vivian Guido created film Turning Tides as part of masters in environmental communication, featuring Shark Stewards work supporting Sustainable Development Goals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shark Research Institute: Existing partner organization focused specifically on shark research, conservation, and CITES listings. Directly comparable as a shark-specialist nonprofit operating in advocacy and species protection.
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: International marine conservation nonprofit focused on ocean wildlife protection including sharks and marine protected areas. Directly comparable as a grassroots advocacy and direct-action organization defending marine species and habitats.
• Turtle Island Restoration Network: Existing coalition partner focused on marine conservation, including shark fin trade bans and driftnet elimination campaigns. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized grassroots advocacy organization tackling overlapping marine protection issues.
• Reef Check Foundation: Citizen science nonprofit engaging volunteer divers to monitor reef ecosystems globally. Comparable as a community-science-driven marine conservation organization with similar volunteer mobilization model.
• Project AWARE Foundation: Diver-led ocean conservation nonprofit mobilizing scuba community for marine protection including shark conservation. Comparable through grassroots community science and diver engagement model similar to Shark Watch.
• Marine Conservation Institute: Nonprofit focused on establishing marine protected areas globally and protecting ocean biodiversity. Comparable through MPA advocacy and policy work that directly intersects with Shark Stewards' core mission.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large conservation organization with marine programs protecting sharks, rays, and ocean ecosystems. Comparable through species-focused marine advocacy and global conservation footprint.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare: Large international animal welfare and conservation organization with marine programs. Comparable through policy advocacy for marine species protection and global conservation campaigns.
• Oceana: Largest international ocean conservation advocacy organization. Comparable through its campaign-based policy advocacy for marine protected areas, fisheries regulation, and shark protections, though at much larger scale and broader scope than Shark Stewards.
• Pew Charitable Trusts - Ocean Legacy: Major foundation funding large-scale marine protected area campaigns globally. Comparable as a funder and advocate for MPAs that overlap with Shark Stewards' California and Pacific sanctuary work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sharkstewards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Sharksaver
• Facebookfacebook.com/SharkStewards
• Instagraminstagram.com/sharkstewards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shark-stewards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shark Stewards