Gajićhasalotofworkahead—notjustinfurthersharkstudies,butinconservation,too.Hehasalotofquestions.Canexistinglawsbestrengthenedtoprotecttheenvironment?Canawarenessberaisedsothatpeopleunderstandhowhumanactionsareaffectingmarineanimals?Whatcankidsdotohelpkeepsharks healthy?

Gajićsaystherearemanythingsthatkidscandotohelp.Somemightsurpriseyou.Forexample:Takealookatthetoothpasteyouuse.Sometoothpastescontainmicroplastics.Microplasticsaresmallplasticpieceslessthanfivemillimeters(0.2inches)insize,whichcanbeharmfultoaquaticlife.Youcanalsohelpbynotusingdisposableplasticbagsorplasticdrinkingstraws.Manyofthesethingsendupinour waterways.

Hesaysthatyoucanhelpbyparticipatingincitizenscience.Isthereabeachnearyou?Takeawalk.Lookatwhatyoufindthere—youmayfindtheeggcasesofsomesharkorskatespecies.TakeaphotoanduploadittoiNaturalist.Thismayhelpresearcherslikehimlearnpreciselywheresharknurserygrounds are.

Mostofall,learnasmuchasyoucanaboutsharksandtheirenvironment.Thensharewhatyouknowwithothers.Themoreweknowaboutourworldandhowouractionscanaffectit,theeasieritwillbecometohelpbuildaplanetin balance.