WELCOME TO the sharklife conservation group (est. 2005)
We need sharks…
The ocean needs sharks…
the planet needs sharks…
A conservation research organisation and marine field station in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, combining marine research, education and field training.
Conservation through research.
Sharklife Conservation Group, established in 2005, is a conservation research organisation based in Sodwana Bay. Our work combines long-term marine research, education and structured field training, with a particular focus on sharks, rays and coastal ecosystems.
Research builds the evidence needed for conservation. Education turns that evidence into understanding. Field training develops practical skills in the next generation of marine practitioners.
The Sharklife Field Station
Based in Sodwana Bay, alongside the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, the field station is the operational heart of Sharklife. It supports approved marine research, long-term monitoring, education and structured field training within clearly defined roles.
Our Location
iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area
South Africa’s largest coastal MPA and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photo: Tomas Kotuc
Our Milestones
Two decades of conservation work have built a foundation for long-term marine research, education and field training in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Marine biology & field training
Learn inside a working marine field station. Sharklife offers structured pathways for field training, university assignments and formal thesis research, each designed around a different academic or professional goal.
Students can choose between the Marine Biology Training Internship, Independent Field-Based Assignment, Thesis Placement, Marine Conservation Volunteer programme and Divemaster Internship.
Marine education & public awareness
Education is a core part of Sharklife’s conservation work. Through courses, learning resources, outreach and public communication, we improve understanding of sharks, rays, marine ecosystems and the science used to study them.