Shark Research Institute's Outstanding Achievement Award

The Shark Research Institute (SRI) is proud to announce the first receipient of its Outstanding Achievement Award is Albert Andrew Gifford. The Bullet, as he is affectionately known to friends and colleagues, joined SRI in 1993. He has worn many hats throughout his lifetime: CEO, company director, entrepreneur, aquarium curator, game ranger and fisheries inspector. A well-known photojournalist specializing in environmental conservation and shark research, his articles have appeared in magazines throughout the world. He has authored papers for scientific journals and has led the onsite investigations of shark attacks in southern Africa since 1993. As Director of SRI-South Africa, The Bullet initiated SRI's whale shark study in 1993. His team conducted regular aerial surveys, expanded the study to Mozambique and the Seychelles, created a mobile field station, developed and manufactured tags for use specifically on whale sharks, tagged more than 250 whale sharks with visual ID tags and initiated SRI's satellite tagging study. His book, Consolidated Summary of the Fieldwork Studies on Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) off the East Coast of Southern Africa for the period 1993 to 1998, published December 2002 in South Africa, details SRI's aerial study and tagging programmes in the Seychelles, Mozambique and South Africa, and serves as a guide for similar studies worldwide. The success in placing whale sharks on Appendix II of the Convention in Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) is due in large part to the data collected by Mr. Gifford and his team in South Africa. The Board of Trustees, Officers and Members of the Shark Research Institute worldwide recognize Mr. Gifford's outstanding work in the field of marine conservation through this award, hereinafter to be known as 'The Gifford' in his honour.