Prof. Steve Oakley has worked on marine biodiversity and conservation in SE Asia for the past 16 years. He came to Borneo to work at University Malaysia Sarawak at the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation. Through surveys and lobbying he has helped raise awareness of many coastal issues especially the destruction caused by blast and cyanide fishing. He founded the Green Connection Aquarium in Kota Kinabalu as a way to promote environmental education to large numbers of Sabahan parents and children.

Prof Oakley is the founder of Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC) a non profit organisation that uses volunteers to rebuild coral reefs, protect turtles and develop a shark sanctuary. The surveys that have been done by TRACC were instrumental in raising the awareness for the need to protect sharks in Malaysia. Facts such as “2050 hours underwater in a national park and no sharks seen and a fall in shark numbers of 98% in 16 years” have helped persuade the Sabah State Cabinet that sharks should be protected.

By combining economic value for tourism with real information on shark population declines, Prof. Oakley is leading the drive to change the law to protect sharks. This has been successful: the Minister for Tourism and Environment has announced the new law will come into effect early in 2012.

Prof Steve Oakley is coordinator for the Global Shark Survey and volunteer team leader for Shark Savers Malaysia.