Independent strategy and creative solutions Octopus & Whale and NFT (non-fungible tokens) marketplace Likha team up to launch an advocacy to save the oceans. The Save Our Sharks (SOS) is a collection of unique art NFTs each representing the 200 species of rare Philippine sharks, rays, and chimaeras.

The Philippines’ vibrant marine biodiversity provides habitat to around 200 species of sharks, including rays and chimaeras. However, overfishing, habitat destruction, and unregulated human intervention have wasted many efforts waged to save the shark’s dwindling numbers. Now, many are rare and difficult to find, making many sharks an endangered species.

“We want to honor these beautiful creatures through art, taking them to the NFT space where rarity is highly valued,” said Bea Pesarillo, head of digital strategy, Octopus & Whale.

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NFT Enthusiasts invest in digital art heavily on the unique and rare. No different from real world rare art collectors. Equipped with data on art appreciation having dipped over the years, there is now a strong rise in interest from young people when NFTs entered the picture.

“The people who share our lives, and the creatures we share our planet with. It is sad to see how current ways of life are causing habitat destruction that endanger other creatures,” said Joey David Tiempo, founder, Octopus & Whale. “They’ll be extinct before we know much about them, or before we can appreciate them, and save them for the next generations. O&W wants to do our share in saving the sharks the best way we know how, through art, creativity, and technology.”

Each NFT is designed based on the species recorded in “Pating Ka Ba? An ID Guide to Sharks, Batoids, and Chimaeras of the Philippines.” Once the new version is published, the team will update the art for the sharks that have new info — making this an “Evolving NFT Collection.”

“With O&W as partners, and advocacy in the mix, we are confident that our mission to provide local artists and brands the space to mint, manage and market their NFTs will be propelled, and our work as a Filipino blockchain development company accelerating decentralized digital asset adoption in the country will reach wider understanding,” says Gelo Wong, CEO, BayaniChain chief executive officer.