An oceanic whitetip shark was caught and released back into the water in Haiti. (July 15)

Jamie Aquino, president and founder of Haiti Ocean Project, a marine conservation organization based in a small coastal fishing village in Southern Haiti, focuses on protecting endangered marine species and educating Haitian youth about their ocean.

Said Aquino: "Through years of research, they have discovered that the waters in their region of Haiti, is home to the first confirmed shark nursery in the world for the oceanic whitetip shark. Lately, some of the larger juvenile oceanic whitetip sharks have been seen in the Nippes Region, where Haiti Ocean Project is based, including this 127 cm male caught at the Anse a Veau FAD. With clear skies and calm waters, the Haiti Ocean Project team was able to easily measure, take a sample, remove the hook and release the shark. These sharks are critically endangered globally, so their work saving the young is even more important."

Haiti Ocean Project is a marine conservation organization based in a small coastal fishing village in Southern Haiti, focused on protecting endangered marine species and educating Haitian youth about their ocean. Through years of research, they have discovered that the waters in their region of Haiti, is home to the first confirmed shark nursery in the world for the oceanic whitetip shark. Lately, some of the larger juvenile oceanic whitetip sharks have been seen in the Nippes Region, where Haiti Ocean Project is based, including this 127 cm male caught on July 15 at the Anse a Veau FAD. With clear skies and calm waters, the Haiti Ocean Project team was able to easily measure, take a sample, remove the hook and release the shark. These sharks are critically endangered globally, so their work saving the young is even more important.