
Endangered Hope
In one of the world’s top shark-fishing nations, a community-led project is proving that conservation and livelihoods can thrive together.
In northern Sumatra, Indonesia, an initiative is quietly reshaping shark conservation, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows of extinction. As one of the world’s largest shark-fishing nations, Indonesia faces a growing conservation crisis. Kebersamaan Untuk Lautan (KUL), meaning “Togetherness for the Ocean” in Bahasa Indonesia, bridges conservation and community welfare by working directly with local fishers to release critically endangered sharks and rays.
Species such as scalloped hammerheads and wedgefish, often caught as valuable bycatch, are on the brink of extinction. Since 2022, more than 1,000 have been safely released thanks to KUL’s efforts. Fishers have been trained to tag and handle these animals safely, contributing vital data to science. In return, KUL compensates them for each release, creating sustainable livelihoods and empowering coastal communities to protect their patch of the ocean.
With every release, KUL casts a ripple of hope, proving that when tradition and conservation come together, both people and the planet can thrive.
**On going personal Project**

Featured In...
Paying fishers to release sharks
April 2025
Scuba Diving Underwater Photo Contest Winners
September 2024
Issue 38: Endangered Hope
September 2024
Ocean Photographer of the Year Finalist 2024
August 2024
July Issue '24: Empty the nets
July 2024
Summer Issue '24: working together
June 2024
For inquiries on past, present and future work, potential collaborations, commissions and other info feel free to reach out at francescapagephoto@gmail.com

Testimonial
Hollie Booth, Conservation Scientist, University of Oxford & Bangor University, and Co-founder, Kebersamaan Untuk Lautan (KUL)
“Francesca is an exceptionally gifted conservation photographer whose work has had a tangible impact on our NGO’s mission in Indonesia. Her photography combines extraordinary artistic talent with deep ethical sensitivity, and her images have transformed how we communicate, from elevating our scientific publications and media coverage, ultimately helping us to attract global attention and new sources of funding, to deepening our engagement with coastal communities.
Francesca approaches complex and sensitive topics with rare empathy and integrity, and her storytelling captures the full arc of marine conservation: the urgency, the humanity, and the hope. Her ability to portray both the challenges and the possibilities of ocean conservation is powerful and unique. Her work has already brought KUL to new audiences through international magazines, scientific platforms, and global conservation media at a critical moment for our organisation.
She is also a joy to collaborate with, kind, enthusiastic, resilient, generous, and always open to new stories and perspectives, even when they challenge her deeply held values (including befriending shark fishers!). Her collaborative spirit and commitment to ethical storytelling have made a meaningful difference not only to our organisation but also to the coastal communities we serve. I feel very lucky to call her both a colleague and a friend.”
For inquiries on past, present and future work, potential collaborations, commissions and other info feel free to reach out at francescapagephoto@gmail.com














































