Sharks have roamed the planet’s waters since before the dinosaurs, but only recently have we begun to understand the lives of these powerful predators in the ocean. Fifty years after Jaws shocked audiences in theaters, we open the National Geographic archives to reveal the true story of 20th-century women leading shark science and dive into cutting-edge conservation work of shark researcher and National Geographic Explorer Jess Cramp. Swim alongside her under the vibrant waters of the South Pacific to find out what it truly means to save sharks.

Dr. Jess Cramp is a shark researcher who specializes in conservation policy and engaging communities in the management of their ocean. Jess co-championed a grassroots campaign that resulted in the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary in 2012, an area exceeding 770,000 square miles. She is the founder and executive director of Sharks Pacific, a non-profit organization that conducts research, outreach, and advocacy throughout the Pacific Islands region.