Environmental Journalism and Photography

THIS IS WHERE MY PASSION LIES so I have written and had published hundreds of environmental articles, mostly about the ocean and sharks in particular. Here are just a few.

Mighty Maxine, A Shark's Legacy - Africa Geographic

Text and some photos: Lesley Rochat

In 2004, Africa Geographic reported on the remarkable story of Maxine, a raggedtooth shark on the verge of release from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa, into the wild. Her subsequent return to the sea, though dramatic, was successful and precipitated the release of several other captive raggies. Lesley Rochat, the woman behind what would become a phenomenon, reflects on the successes and lessons of the past five years. Download a PDF copy of the article.

 

Mighty Maxine - Africa Geographic

Cover article. Text and most photos: Lesley Rochat.

I wrote this article before Maxine was released and before I had secured any funding. It outlined my intentions for the Programme, my movitation and my ambitious future plans and resulted in a great deal of interest. After Maxine was released I wrote updates for the magazine on her progress, as well as that of the other sharks released.

The Rape of our Seas - Africa Geographic Magazine

Text: Lesley Rochat. Foreign Vessels are Plundering South Africa's fishing resources, says Lesley Rochat, Executive Director of the AfriOceans Conservation Alliance.

Finning is the practice of slicing off a shark's fins and throwing the carcass back into the sea. Sharks worldwide are being killed at an alarming rate and some species may go extinct in 20 years if current exploitation levels continue.