We are so deeply grateful to everyone who helped search, and happy that Rob passed while doing what he loved. We are working on how best to honour his incredible work. If you would like to share your memories or messages with the public, please post them using the form below. We are working on a way to share photos as well.
For private messages to the family please click here
Rob Stewart accomplished so much in his life, but there’s still more to do. To honour Rob’s memory, the Stewart family is collecting donations in order to continue his conservation work. You can help by visiting robstewartsharkwaterfoundation.org. A tax receipt will be issued.
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TALKING ABOUT YOU I JUST FEEL REAL LOVE
Just being him, he inspired a lot of people, he made us better no matter the distance, we could feel through the movies a good energy, a purify energy of someone that it was totally amazing. It was my dream to meet him, and now I know that this is not going to happen, but I know that he is in a better place, and he made his mission here, he helped so much the ocean, the sharks , only with his love he made all of this and no matter where he is, he is taking care of the sharks and the ocean, because he is an angel.
Thank you Rob for everything, every single detail <3, you will always be important to me, and I really hope that one day, I could do something for the ocean as the size that you did. Rest in peace bro
(Sorry this is so long)
Six years ago, my brother went through another phase. The last few wers dolphins and space, this one was sharks. There wasn’t much in the shark section at the library, just a few books with pictures and only one DVD. Sharkwater. Being young we just assumed it was just some ransom movie about sharks and didn’t bother to read into it so we got it and went home to watch it. I remember running into the basement, turning on the TV and putting the disk in, neither of us expected our lives to change as much as they did that day. From that day on, I was always telling people about the truth of sharks and when they didn’t belive me I told them: “Watch this movie called Sharkwater, it’s by Rob Stewart he will change your life.” No one ever did, but I kept trying. From the moment the credits started rolling I saw him as my idol, my hero and tried to get others to see the same. From grade six to grade eleven all my projects that I could were based on sharks and the finning industry and everything Rob had taught me about them. When we found out he went missing, I was all overy every article and every news story on every social media platform. I went out of town for a day and used up al my data to keep up with the search and donated what I hat to the GoFundMe. I wanted to be in Florida SO badly to help, but concidering I’m stuck in a small town in southern Ontario and with high school work to be worried about, I did what I could from here. On Friday I told myself to take a break from the news and go read. A few minutes later my mom came into the room and told me they found his body. I will admit, I’ve already cried seven times since then. It’s just so hard to accept that someone as amazing and caring and strong as Rob was gone. I’ve been hearing his voice in my head recently, just some of the things he’s said that have stuck with me for so long. I even remember during Shark Week last year when he did a livestream and I commented about how much everything he was done meant to me and that he was my hero. That’s what has been playing in my head. When he read it out loud, smiled to the camera and said “Thank you, Emma. I love you.” That’s something I will never forget. Just like I will never forget him. Ever. I will always stand by what he taught me about sharks, our oceans and out planet. I will continue to fight for what he belived in his memory. Rob, you were and always will be my hero.
I was luckily able to briefly meet Rob in Burlington a couple years ago when I scheme Revolution.
Rob instantly exuded this incredible energy. His passion was immediately conveyed.
I told him I would do whatever I could to take part in his missions making this world a better place.
I only briefly met him but hearing the news tore me up. It’s what he respresented. Hope. Action. Unstoppable and unapologetic determination. I felt like with him gone, all hope was gone. After reading so many messages for him and remembering there are so many other environmental warriors out there I felt more determined than ever.
Thank you Rob for all you have done.
In a huge way You made a mark on this world, and you left your spirit in the ocean.
We will carry your energy and love on, your light lives in people, animals and the earth.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Rob’s documetary “Sharkwater” was the film that inspired my friends and I to start SOS (Save Our Seas), a focus group in our school community to raise awareness and funds about marine poaching (mainly shark-finning). The film opened our eyes to a problem that was completely unknown to our 7th grader selves: the lucrative shark-finning industry.
Watching Rob capture his interactions with the sharks on his dives challenged the stigma that we attach to them. They’re not at all the ferocious creatures we see them as but rather beautiful creatures whom we depend upon for our survival. His exposè of the illegal finning activities in various regions of the world, including the protected area that is the Galapagos, gave us a real wake up call to act on the issue. Since Singapore is one of the biggest markets for shark-fin after Hong Kong and China, we felt especially compelled to raise awareness and funds.
Very saddened to hear about Rob’s passing, but glad to know he died doing the one thing he loved: fighting for the conservation of sharks. Hopefully this will help to push for peopley to contribute towards conservation efforts to tackle this important cause.
I came across Sharkwater one night years ago. It was on TV when I should have been studying for an exam I had the next day. I was instantly captivated.
I haven’t stopped talking about it since.
I tell everyone to watch it. It changed the way I think about sharks, the ocean and the way I live my life. I have continued to follow Rob’s work, I sign every shark fin petition I come across, scan every menu for shark fin soup before deciding to dine, and continue to talk about Sharkwater to anyone who will listen.
This is a devastating loss and to honour Rob’s memory I will double my efforts. We will continue his great work and keep spreading his message so that he may rest in peace not
As a teacher of middle school students, I have shown Rob’s movies to my classes over the years. They have inspired and changed the lives of many of my students. Rob’s impact has reached further than anyone will know. Thanks for being the ‘guardians of the sharks and the voice of the ocean’, and the inspiration to young conservationists. He will be greatly missed.
The world, and all the sharks in all the oceans are sending you a big thank you. You opened so many people’s eyes, you made people see that sharks are not the big mouth with teeth that people saw in the movies. Your documentary about sharks made me cry, at the cruelty of humans, and moved me with the beauty of sharks.
I hope that your crew and friends will use the footage you made so far to make the second Sharkwater documentary in your honour. We will continue the fight to save these beautiful creatures that you loved so much. Lets show the world what you want them to see, that sharks are beautiful and intelligent creatures that deserve respect and to be left alone by humans.
Rest in peace Rob Stewart, you did so much for the sharks. Thank you.
We will make you proud Rob. Thanks for changing the world.
Really sad to hear this. Rob opened my eyes about sharks and showed me a different side to the one we are all lead to believe. The world will NOT be better off without Rob – a true champion for a cause.
My heart is shattered, I still cannot believe he is gone. His passion is beyond inspirational, I believe he had no idea of how many people he has touched with his work, and will keep on touching for many years to come. A truly blessed human being who left a huge hole no one else can fill. We will love you forever, Rob…
The world lost a truly talented man and I lost one of my idols. His film “Sharkwater” moved me beyond words. I was never the same after watching that film. Since then I’ve tried to advocate for sharks as much as possible. May his soul rest easy ❤
When I was a kid I was so afraid of sharks, I had nightmares and couldn’t even look at a harmless picture of one without having a panic attack.
Then I somehow stubled upon Sharkwater and I made myself watch it. After that everything was different. I still wouldn’t swim with sharks but now I think of them as wonderful creatures and I try to persuade everyone I meet to think the same (I am a teacher, it will be a few…).
Even if I never met you I am so thankful that you lived and made a difference.