I want to make something clear about the Gulf Great White Shark Society™ and what we are here to do.
We are not a political action group. We don’t endorse candidates or political parties, tell people how they should vote or take positions on fisheries policy. That’s simply not the purpose of the Gulf Great White Shark Society.
The Society is a loose association conceived, founded and run by me, wildlife journalist and conservationist Chester Moore, with a simple purpose: education and inspiration.
I founded it because I have been fascinated with great white sharks since I was a kid and because I believe something incredible is happening in the Gulf. We have an opportunity to learn more about these amazing animals, share good information about them and get people excited about the fact that great whites are part of the Gulf ecosystem.
We support science-based fisheries management and recognize the importance of sound management for sharks and the marine ecosystems they inhabit. Many organizations and individuals are involved in fisheries management, policy, advocacy and other important aspects of marine conservation, and we respect the roles they play.
Our role is simply different.
We want to increase knowledge of great white sharks and other large sharks in the Gulf, share legitimate science and research, inspire people to learn more and celebrate these incredible animals.
And celebrate is a big word for us.
There is plenty of anger in the world. We’re just not angry. We love sharks.
When a great white shows up in the Gulf, we think that’s awesome. When researchers learn something new about their movements, we want to know about it. When an angler has an incredible encounter, we want to hear the story. When a kid becomes fascinated with sharks and starts asking questions, that’s exactly the kind of thing we want to encourage.
That’s what drives the Gulf Great White Shark Society.
Let the Science Speak
One of the most exciting things about great white sharks is how much we’re still learning about them.
Satellite and acoustic tagging, field observations, historical records and other research are giving us a better picture of how great whites use Gulf waters. There are still plenty of questions, and that’s part of what makes this so interesting.
We want to share that information without telling people what they have to think about it. Give people good information. Point them toward legitimate science. Let them hear from researchers, anglers and people who spend their lives on the water. Encourage them to dig deeper.
Then let them make up their own minds.
That’s important to me.
People who follow the Gulf Great White Shark Society come from many different backgrounds. They aren’t going to agree on everything. They may have different political beliefs and different opinions about fishing, fisheries management, regulations and conservation.
That’s OK. None of those things are a requirement for being part of what we’re doing.
You can have very different opinions about all kinds of issues and still think a 12-foot great white shark swimming through the Gulf is incredible.
Sharks Are Worth Celebrating
I’ve spent my career trying to get people excited about wildlife, and I’ve learned that fascination can be a powerful doorway to conservation.
Sometimes it starts with a kid seeing a shark for the first time. Maybe it’s an angler watching a huge shark swim alongside the boat or someone following a tagged great white and realizing that animal just entered the Gulf.
Something clicks, and they want to know more.
That curiosity can become knowledge, and knowledge can become appreciation. When people appreciate wildlife, they have a reason to care about it.
That’s the lane we’ve chosen.
We want to talk about great whites, tiger sharks, hammerheads, makos and the other incredible large sharks that inhabit the Gulf. We want to talk about research, historic encounters, new discoveries and some of the mysteries that haven’t been solved yet.
We want young people to get excited about marine science and shark conservation. Maybe a kid who starts following a great white today becomes a shark researcher, wildlife photographer, conservationist or marine biologist 20 years from now.
That’s something worth investing in.
Education. Inspiration. Celebration.
Those three words sum up the Gulf Great White Shark Society pretty well: education, inspiration and celebration.
We’re going to share science, tell stories, highlight people doing important research, dig into the history of these animals in Gulf waters and keep looking for answers to the questions that remain.
And we’re going to have fun with it.
You don’t have to belong to a particular political party. You don’t have to agree with us—or anyone else—on every fisheries issue. You don’t even have to come here already loving sharks.
Come learn about them. Look at the research. Ask questions. Follow the sharks. Listen to the scientists, anglers and people who spend their lives on the Gulf.
Then make up your own mind.
We’re just glad you’re interested in sharks.
The Gulf Great White Shark Society exists to educate, inspire and celebrate.
And we think having great white sharks swimming in the Gulf gives us plenty to celebrate.
—Chester Moore
Founder, Gulf Great White Shark Society
Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms
@gulfgreatwhitesharksociety on Instagram
@thechestermoore on Instagram
Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook
Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.
Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.
Leave a Reply