Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online
According to J-Archive, sharks have been featured in 417 Jeopardy clues, including about a dozen whole categories. I’ve selected what I believe to be the most difficult 10 of them. How many can you get correct? 1 Art-Podge for $200, 10/29/2001: “Damien Hirst is known for his dead animals in tanks artwork, notably one of … Read More “How many of these shark Jeopardy clues can you get correct?” »
A face. A fleet. A war. A man. And some sharks! Here’s a look at what sharks are found in Greek waters, and how things have changed over the centuries. People have been talking about sharks in the Mediterranean for a very long time- some of the first written descriptions of shark egg cases come … Read More “What sharks would Odysseus have encountered during his journey?” »
One of my first part-time positions as an ocean conservation policy consultant was working for the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Tuna and Billfish Specialist Group. Our task was to update the IUCN Red List conservation assessments for all the different species of tuna and billfish on Earth. This job, a perfect introduction to working at … Read More “5 things I learned helping to reassess the global conservation status of every species of tuna and billfish” »
The United Nations Environment Programme hired me to produce a Convengtion on Migratory Species report on the environmental impacts associated with fish aggregating devices and how to mitigate those impacts. Here are some key takeaways. FADs very widely in design, and different designs have different environmental impacts. Because open-ocean fish tend to associate with any … Read More “Key takeaways from my Convention on Migratory Species report on fish aggregating devices in the Mediterranean Sea” »
This summer, the American Elasmobranch Society held a memorial symposium for beloved scientist Dr. Jeff Carrier, and I was asked to speak about Jeff’s work at Seacamp. By request, here’s the text of my remarks, along with some photos. Many AES members worked with Jeff Carrier for longer than I did. But I bet that … Read More “Sharks, science, and summer camp: Jeff Carrier’s underappreciated Seacamp legacy” »
Fishing for fun, even “catch and release” fishing, can sometimes have a significant impact on fish species of conservation concern. When most environmentalists think about the impacts of fishing, they’re thinking about large-scale industrial commercial fisheries. These impacts are serious and absolutely deserve our attention, and indeed how to mitigate those impacts is the subject … Read More “The conservation impacts of recreational fishing” »
Want a fun and unique birthday gift+ for the shark nerd in your life? I’m now on Cameo, the app that lets you get a personalized video message from celebrities*. You can now hire me through Cameo to deliver a personalized birthday message, including a fun fact about sharks! Here’s how it works, for those … Read More “Want to wish someone happy birthday with shark facts? I’m now on Cameo!” »
Why well-intentioned but uninformed guessing cannot and will not solve conservation problems, and what we should do instead. Picture this scene: you’re walking down the street, and you see your neighbor pacing back and forth nervously near the door to his house. He’s locked himself out of his house, accidentally leaving his keys inside. A … Read More “The locksmith and the conservation scientist” »
I will be giving some public talks on shark science and conservation this summer. Here’s how to find me! Tuesday, July 7th, Silver Spring, Maryland (Wheaton Library, 5:30 P.M.) This talk is kid friendly, and is an overview of shark science and conservation, as well as my own story. There will be plenty of time … Read More “Some upcoming public talks on shark science and conservation” »
I am thrilled to announce that “Why Sustainable Seafood Matters,” my second book, is now available for preorder through my publisher Johns Hopkins University Press! Use code HWSSM for 30% off your preorder! Preorders are important because they help signal to booksellers how much interest there is in a book, so please consider ordering a … Read More ““Why Sustainable Seafood Matters” is now available for preorder! Here’s what it’s about, and why I decided to write it.” »
