Supporting Ziad Samaha’s ocean legacy

Supporting Ziad Samaha’s ocean legacy

On April 21, 2023, Ziad Samaha (also known as Zax, Ziacci, Sharky, Abu Zouz, among others) passed away unexpectedly at the age of 41 in a diving accident off the coast of Italy. His passing has shaken the marine conservation community, especially in his beloved Mediterranean Sea.

For the past few months, we have been talking to many of his friends, family and colleagues on the best way to honor his legacy. One subject was very obvious, Ziad’s love for sharks. His passion for these animals had no bounds. In his work, as in his life, Ziad was very committed to actions that have long-lasting impacts. Small changes that cumulatively can create a larger wave. In most projects he led, as well as in his personal life, education and awareness played a central role and were something he particularly enjoyed doing.

After a long search, we have settled that the best way to honor Ziad’s legacy is by establishing a scholarship programme in his name. The scholarship aims to build opportunities for working on and promoting shark conservation in the Mediterranean region, where very little action is dedicated to this largely endangered group.

We hope to be able to raise at least 15,000 USD to ensure sustainability of the scholarship for at least 3 years and hopefully beyond. A grant of 5,000 USD annually would be accorded to an undergraduate student working with sharks and rays - they could be a biologist, economist, policy or fisheries specialist, etc. from the Eastern & Southern Mediterranean region. Candidates for the scholarship will be asked to support fundraising and give back to the community in a way that they chose and therefore own but within the scope of the scholarship’s spirit.

The organization MarAlliance was selected to be a home for the funds given their inspiring work on shark conservation globally, and their transparent financial reporting.

We hope you can contribute to ensuring that Ziad’s legacy lives on and that other young leaders can get the knowledge needed to carry on his work conserving sharks in the Mediterranean.

Thank you!

Marion Cassiat & Imèn Meliane

PS: for those of you who would like to support but are unable to do so because of banking access restrictions, please email us at ziadsamahascholarship-at-gmail.com.