SHARK RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MEET the TEAM in HAWAI'I
Charlie Fasano - Hawaii Regional Director for Shark Research Institute
Charlie holds degrees in Marine Biology and Marine Technology. He has worked as a Field Manager of the Coral Reef Restoration Team for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Florida where his work concentrated on coral reef restoration using biological methodologies in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
In 2004, Charlie moved to Kailua Kona, Hawaii to pursue a career in underwater cinematography. His filmography includes a project documenting autistic children swimming with wild dolphins to his award-winning film, Hawaii’s Undersea Ohana.
Also in Kailua Kona, Charlie was part of a small team of unique scuba divers who initially investigated the now popular recreational "blackwater dive." In 2010, world-renowned marine artist and SRI Advisor, Wyland, appointed Charlie the Executive Director of the distinguished Ocean Artists Society.
Charlie has contributed to many ocean-related media publications, including Ocean Geographic, Scuba Diver Ocean Planet, Asian Diver, Scuba Diver Life, and ScubaShooters, to name a few. He has been a VIP speaker and presenter at Asia Dive Expos, Dive Resort Travel expos, and Thailand Dive Expos, where he spoke about ocean conservation and underwater cinematography methods.
Charlie has attended the Conference of International Trade of Exotic Species (CITES) CoP16 and CoP19 and successfully lobbied for international trade protections of manta and mobula rays and 95% of species of sharks. He will be leading SRI's delegation for CoP20.
In 2018, he was inducted into the prestigious The Explorers Club.
He currently performs parallel laser photogrammetry captures of Big Island tiger sharks.
“I feel that we are in a new advent of enlightened thinking of the frailty of the marine environment. I believe that underwater art can inspire a new generation of ocean conservationists to stand up and reduce our human impact on the oceans. Our Environmental Renaissance has begun.” -C.Fasano-
Angelique Reinke - Hawaii Intern
Angelique is a passionate free diver and ocean explorer. She holds a degree in Science from Brigham Young University and works closely with the director of Coral World International and the Coral Reef Education Institute. Her deep appreciation for the marine life also increased her desire to protect sharks and educate people about these fascinating and still misunderstood creatures and their important role in the marine ecosystem.
