In 2015, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen launched Global FinPrint, a global survey that eventually deployed thousands of underwater cameras across coral reefs in 58 countries. The project was led by researchers at Florida International University and funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, with more than 120 researchers across the western Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific and the Central Pacific. In total, more than 400 reefs were surveyed across 58 countries and territories, producing over 20,000 hours of footage. The study published in Nature, titled ‘ Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks ’, showed that sharks were absent from nearly 20% of the reefs surveyed. The study linked this depletion to socio-economic factors including market proximity, poor governance, and population density, while also identifying shark sanctuaries, catch limits and marine protected areas as measures associated with higher shark abundance. The research also revealed that reef shark populations varied dramatically between regions, highlighting how local management can influence marine ecosystems. By creating a standardized global dataset, Global FinPrint gave scientists an unprecedented baseline for tracking shark populations and evaluating conservation efforts over time.
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