How the tuna saved the shark

Lisama Sabry

Lisama Sabry studied for her MPhil in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge. She has always had an appreciation for nature and considered herself lucky to grow up in the Maldives, an island nation with outstanding marine biological diversity and beauty. She started her conservation journey by joining the Ministry of Environment of Maldives to work for a donor-funded project on wetland management and coral reef conservation. At the end of this project, Lisama joined the Biodiversity Conservation Unit of the Ministry of Environment as a civil servant. She now works as an Environment Analyst, striving to bring about positive impacts to the lives of Maldivians as well as our ecosystems by addressing challenges such as climate change impacts. Lisama has been involved in policy formulation for biodiversity conservation, protection of ecologically significant areas and species, designing biodiversity conservation projects, and representing Maldives in international negotiations of biodiversity related multilateral environmental agreements. Her aim is to achieve conservation and management of biodiversity and natural capital of Maldives in line with national priorities, needs, commitments, and international obligations which brings about sustainable development.

Her reason for optimism: ” Where once sharks were exploited in the Maldives resulting in declining of their populations with ecological and economic implications, now Maldives is a renowned shark sanctuary where people live in harmony with this charismatic megafauna, giving me hope for the survival of sharks”