Unique Experiences

Item Description

Meet David McGuire for lunch or dinner in San Francisco, California

A marine biologist and ocean advocate, David McGuire is the founder of Sea Stewards, a non profit organization working to restore the health of San Francisco Bay and the ocean, and protecting all ocean life from plankton to sharks.

As a Research Associate of the Department of Aquatic Biology at the California Academy of Sciences, David is conducting a shark research program that includes population studies, movements and fisheries impacts.

As captain, divemaster and filmmaker, David has explored the world ocean on numerous sailing voyages, producing media with an emphasis on ocean awareness. Educated in Marine Biology, he holds a masters degree in Environmental Health and has worked in education and public health at the University of California at Berkeley for over a decade. David is the writer, producer and underwater cinematographer of several award winning documentaries focusing on sharks.

David has recently produced a new documentary on the sharks of San Francisco Bay and has recently worked as cameraman on feature films such as 180 South with Patagonia and A Beautiful Wave. Films in production includes a film with local fishermen promoting catch and release of sharks and a series on local sustainable seafood. He has also published numerous articles on the state of the ocean and sharks and writes a blog on sharks and ocean health.

Through Sea Stewards, David catalyzed the coalition leading to the passage of the AB 376,  which bans the sale, possession, distribution and trade in shark fins in the State of California. He is dedicated to ending shark finning and the shark fin trade. Work on fin regulation is ongoing in other US states and in the Western Pacific through the Pacific Shark Coalition he founded with Asian partners. 

As documentarian and diver, he has conducted expeditions with Academy researchers communicating the wonders of the natural world and ocean life and the need to protect them, including a 2011 two-month expedition to the Philippines where he collected and filmed. His work includes testing seafood and evaluating sustainable fishing influences policies and practices from local to international levels.

David is a published author and sits on several boards of non-profits including The San Francisco Green Film Festival and the Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary Association. He has received numerous awards for his work including the Hero of Marine Environmental Stewardship Award in 2011 and an Emmy award for his work on the documentary Reefs to Rainforests.

www.SeaStewards.org

Item Special Note

The objective of this auction is to spotlight individuals and organizations working effectively for ocean conservation, and raise funds for field research, conservation and outreach projects.

Being auctioned is a dinner or lunch with one of the world's foremost shark experts or celebrities. This is a unique opportunity to "talk shark" face-to-face, one-on-one, with a real authority on sharks.

 How this auction works

1. Bid on a celebrity you would like to get to know personally (shark scientist, educator, explorer filmmaker, shark photographer, television host, conservationist) who works or lives nearby, unless you are willing to drive or fly to meet them in their area.

2. We will introduce the winning bidder to the celebrity. The two of you then set a mutually agreeable date, time and place to meet within one year of the close of the auction.

3. The winning bidder pays for lunch or dinner and may bring guests.

NOTE: The winning bid is 100% deductible from US Federal 2018 income taxes as a Charitable Donation. A tax receipt will be issued to the winning bidder.