Meet Our FOUNDER & LEAD SCIENTIST
natasha D. Marosi
I was born in NYC far from the turquoise waters of the South Pacific. As a child I had the Atlantic Ocean to play in and a healthy fear of sharks, my sister and I solemnly swore to never wade in water where we could not see our own toes. As an adult I was determined to confront my fears which resulted in an even healthier obsession to dive with sharks in every ocean around the globe. Though I was a defense attorney at the time, I knew then I would someday use my voice to advocate for sharks and their ocean habitats. Volunteering with a shark conservation project in Fiji became the catalyst for my life change and I have been here now for 8 years. Stepping into my role as Conservation Director for Beqa Adventure Divers (BAD) brought with it not only a mentor but also opportunities to continue work alongside the Ministry of Fisheries which had partnered with BAD for over 25 years. I have been able to run several elasmobranch-centric conservation and research projects through my position, which then led to my PhD studying behaviour in bull sharks. It has been my dream to create a biological field station dedicated to the research and conservation of elasmobranchs which also happens to be my life mission, thus ‘Viti Leucas Society’ D.B.A. ‘Fiji Shark Lab’ opened in 2024. The endless source of my motivation comes from the individual sharks that I study. I feel privileged to get to know them personally and document their life histories. I also feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility, as I follow individuals through each mating season and subsequent pregnancy, knowing full well that most of their offspring will never survive the first few years of life. My responsibility is to take action on their behalf.
Meet Our Scientific Advisor
aisake batibasaga
Aisake Batibasaga (Bati) brings over three decades of experience in fisheries management and conservation to his role. His expertise extends to regional and international tuna fisheries management, highlighted by his tenure as Fiji’s Head of Delegation to the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Bati’s dedication to biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries development is evident in his efforts to combat illegal fishing practices and promote stakeholder engagement. As Director of Fisheries, he spearheaded initiatives such as marine protected area establishment and was instrumental in the creation of the Shark Reef Marine Reserve. Bati has led initiatives ranging from coastal fisheries resource assessment to the conservation of endangered species like sea turtles and sharks, and compliance with international agreements like CITES. Bati’s leadership continues to drive collaborative efforts aimed at preserving Fiji’s marine ecosystem for future generations.
Meet Our Scientific Advisor
Juerg
BrunNschweiler
Juerg received his doctorate in Biology from the University of Zurich and has been studying sharks and remoras, as an independent researcher, for more than 20 years. He is interested in the behaviour and ecology of free-ranging sharks, marine tourism, marine protected area design, and how small-scale conservation projects can be successfully implemented in developing countries. Juerg has been involved with the Shark Reef Marine Reserve since 2001. Using a range of methods from direct observation to electronic tagging, he has been studying the life cycle of the bull shark, his focus species, and how shark feeding tourism affects their behaviour.
