Shark Warrior Rochat - By Kim Ruger - (Published in Outdoor Life, Summer edition 2008)
Lesley past.
Lesley present.WHEN TELEVISION FINALLY ARRIVED in South Africa, Lesley Rochat was a little girl. Unlike most who remained magnetically attracted to just about everything that was aired, there was only one program she loved to watch: Jacque Cousteau’s ocean series. It made a massive impression on her and without knowing it, it shaped her destiny.
Years later after modelling to put herself through the University of Cape Town she became an actress, performing in local soapies, theatre productions, and being a television presenter. Tired of being poorly paid in the arts she later diversified into the corporate world as an insurance agent. It was then that she began studying Environmental Science and Cosmology through UNISA, and became a freelance environmental and travel journalist, and underwater photographer. This allowed her to occasionally escape the corporate treadmill, which she found lacked soul. She travelled extensively, photographing and writing for many prestigious magazines. Sometimes she returned to the same destinations where she witnessed the progressive destruction of the reefs. This perturbed her greatly.
As fate played out Jacque Cousteau reminded her of her destiny: she read an article in which he said that SCUBA divers are ambassadors of the sea, and it is their responsibility to inform others about the plight of our oceans - Lesley took his words to heart. Soon thereafter she met Maxine, a ragged tooth shark, while photographing at the Two Oceans Aquarium. On learning about Maxine’s extraordinary past Lesley recognised that Maxine could play a pivotal role in shark conservation by becoming the icon for an idea she had. Maxine was the final catalyst that made her change her life - soon after meeting Maxine she packed up her well-paying corporate position and founded AfriOceans Conservation Alliance (AOCA) in 2004.
The Maxine, Science, Education and Awareness Programme (M-Sea), a high profile shark awareness campaign is Lesley’s brainchild. The Programme had reached over 100 million people worldwide in less than 3 years. It began with the satellite tagging and release of Maxine from the Two Oceans Aquarium after nine years in captivity, which Lesley was responsible for influencing. Maxine's release was followed by the release and tagging of other sharks, including the satellite tagging of wild sharks. This unique scientific research project is supported by an aggressive education and awareness campaign, which has successfully increased awareness about the plight of sharks worldwide. Sharks are being slaughtered at the alarming rate of over 100 million sharks per year, and through the Programme Lesley has helped change perceptions about these severely threatened animals.
Lesley's passion to assist in the conservation of these much-maligned animals, which she often dives with and photographs, has created national awareness about the dire situation of the shark fishery in South Africa. Her documentary Sharks in Deep Trouble, broadcast on national television, shocked over 1 million viewers. Lesley spent time on a longline shark fishing vessel to gain footage of sharks being slaughtered, which has never been seen before. The documentary exposed lack of management and compliance as major problems, which threaten South Africa's shark populations. Following the documentary was her successful petition to stop a shark fishing competition in Durban that was supported worldwide. Rumour has it that Sharks in Deep Trouble embarrassed the South African government and in the wake of its success the additional bad publicity the petition threatened could not be afforded. The success of the film in heightening public awareness has set the platform for Lesley to aggressively lobby for positive change.
Lesley's success in assisting in the conservation of sharks continues to grow - in May 2008 she established the first Shark Centre for Africa, which she ran until Feb 2010 and for which she directed all education and awareness projects. Lesley is an important role player in shark conservation and aptly nicknamed The Shark Warrior - her efforts are recognised internationally and proof that one person can make a difference.
Go to Documentaries and watch the award winning Sharks in Deep Trouble.