Founded in 1998 in Mayotte, the MEGAPTERA association is actively involved in the protection and study of marine mammals. It is developing a wide range of programmes aimed at scientific research, raising public awareness and conserving these species. These initiatives are implemented not only in Mayotte, but also in several other regions of the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar, Réunion, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Djibouti.

The association’s flagship projects includesustainable ecotourism programmes that directly benefit local communities, while being carried out in close collaboration with the authorities of the countries concerned. These programmes aim to encourage responsible management of marine resources, while offering viable economic alternatives to local populations.

The partnership between MEGAPTERA and TERIA was created in 2005, following a meeting between Daniel Jouannet, then Chairman of TERIA, and Michel Vély, Chairman of MEGAPTERA. This partnership has enabled the association to strengthen its capacity to monitor marine mammals using satellite beacons. Since then, TERIA has supported numerous missions dedicated to the deployment of these beacons, contributing to the protection and understanding of the movements of these emblematic species.

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Founded in 1997, APECS (Association Pour l’Étude et la Conservation des Sélaciens) is an association based in Brest dedicated to the protection of sharks and rays, species that are often vulnerable and endangered. More than just an association, APECS plays a crucial role in preserving marine ecosystems as a whole.

The association is renowned for its commitment to developing scientific knowledge about these species. It implements a range of monitoring and research programmes to gather essential data on the state of shark and ray populations, their behaviour and their role in ecosystems. This research is aimed at gaining a better understanding of the challenges facing these species, particularly as a result of overfishing, the degradation of marine habitats and climate change.

At the same time, APECS is rolling out educational and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at a wide range of audiences, from schoolchildren to adults, including professionals in the maritime sector. Through conferences, workshops and communication campaigns, the association strives to ensure that as many people as possible understand the importance of selachians to the balance of marine ecosystems and the need to protect them.

APECS’ expertise is also made available to marine resource managers and political decision-makers. The association advises and supports them in implementing sustainable management measures, based on the scientific data collected over the years. These actions help to influence public policy in favour of the conservation of sharks, rays and, more broadly, marine biodiversity.

Since 2015, TERIA has been working alongside APECS, becoming a valuable partner in the fight to preserve endangered species. Strongly involved in the protection of biodiversity, TERIA particularly supports the PELARGOS programme, which focuses on monitoring basking sharks, an emblematic but threatened species. This partnership illustrates the convergence between scientific efforts and corporate social responsibilities, contributing to a future in which nature conservation is a core concern.

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Lords of the Ocean is the adventure of a lifetime for four young people setting out to realise their dream. Their dream: to sail away for six months to meet the sharks that are thought to be the most dangerous to humans.

Passionate about sharks, they wanted to raise public awareness and change the way we perceive these animals. They also took part in a number of scientific programmes. They have taken samples of plankton and DNA while freediving, and recovered data from underwater transmitters.

To immortalise this human adventure, a web series with a young, offbeat tone has been created. Setting sail from Brest in January 2019 aboard Mecton (a 12-metre sailing boat), they covered more than 16,000 km under sail. The places visited: the Canaries, Playa Del Carmen in Mexico, the Bahamas, the Panama Canal, Malpelo Island in Colombia and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
In all: 13 species of shark encountered, including the bull shark, the tiger shark, the great hammerhead shark and the longfin mako.

TERIA was in awe of them, and wanted to encourage them in their endeavours by supporting them on their 6-month journey.

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