David Shiffman

Dear Shark Man, what’s the deal with those notches on shark tails?

April 11, 2018April 11, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Welcome to Dear Shark Man, an advice column inspired by a ridiculous e-mail I received. You can send your questions to me via twitter (@WhySharksMatter) or e-mail (WhySharksMatter at gmail). Dear Shark Man, Why do sharks tend to have those little notches in their tail fin? Is it like an aerodynamic thing? If you were to fill … Read More “Dear Shark Man, what’s the deal with those notches on shark tails?” »

A scene-by-scene breakdown of the first trailer of “The Meg”

April 10, 2018April 10, 2018 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Blogging, Popular Culture

Yesterday, the trailer for “the Meg” was released online. This movie is based on a popular book series that claims that megalodon is actually not extinct, just hiding. (I’m in the 4th book).

I have a love-hate relationship with movies like this, by which I mean that I love them and I hate myself for loving them. While movies like “Jaws” had a measurable negative effect on public perception of sharks, I don’t believe that more obviously ridiculous movies like SharkNado have a similar effect. Jason Statham playing a marine biologist in a movie that includes Rainn Wilson? Sign me up.

If not for the people who believe that these movies are real and therefore decide to yell at marine biologists on twitter about it, I’d be all for this. Let’s be totally clear here- Carcharocles megalodon is extinct, and here’s how we know. Shark Week lied to you about it. Actresses from this movie asking about it are not experts. This movie is completely fictional. You can certainly watch it and enjoy it, but please don’t cite it as evidence that a 50 foot long whale-eating shark that used to live in shallow coastal waters near what are now populated areas is not extinct.

Anyway, here is a scene-by scene breakdown of what’s in the first trailer. From it, we can tell that this is an action-packed movie with a great cast that does not stick too closely to the books, and is also not particularly interested in scientific accuracy even with respect to issues unrelated to the “giant extinct animals are actually not extinct”central conceit.

Thoughts on the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act

April 5, 2018 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

A few weeks ago, H.R. 5248, The Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act, was introduced into Congress. The purpose of this bill is to “encourage a science-based approach to significantly reduce the overfishing and unsustainable trade of sharks, rays and skates around the world and prevent shark finning,” according to a press release from Mote Marine Lab.

Though the devil is always in the details, and I’ll get into those below, here is a general overview of how this would work. The Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act would direct NOAA Fisheries to evaluate the fisheries management practices of other shark and ray fishing nations. This is similar in principle to other things NOAA is already doing, and a similar role for NOAA was included in the 2010 Shark Conservation Act (but has yet to be implemented).

Nations that have sustainable fisheries management practices comparable to ours (or certain fisheries associated with those nations, even if other fisheries are less well managed) will get a formal certification of their sustainable management practices, and nothing will change for them. Nations (or fisheries) that are found to not have sustainable fisheries management practices comparable to ours will not be allowed to have those products imported into the US and sold in our markets until their management practices improve. In the meantime, they’ll have access to NOAA’s existing capacity building resources and expertise to improve their own practices.

I support much of what this bill is trying to do, but I have some significant concerns about some of the current phrasing and plan for implementation.

Invisible squid and fish with glowing eye spikes: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, April 5th, 2018

April 5, 2018April 2, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Louise Chavarie, an Arctic aquatic ecologist, on twitter! A squid-skin inspired invisibility cloak. From Nature News research updates. Underwater noise pollution disturbs fish, too. From CBC News. NOAA publishes list of global fisheries and their risks to marine mammals. By John Cannon, for MongaBay Antarctic ice melting faster than thought. By … Read More “Invisible squid and fish with glowing eye spikes: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, April 5th, 2018” »

Giant whales and collapsing cod stocks: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 29th, 2018

March 29, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow shark and ray biologist Jeremy Vaudo on twitter! Science may have a reason why whales get so big. By Carrie Arnold, for National Geographic. Paleo profile: The fish from China. By Brian Switek, for Scientific American. Mass stranding in Australia claims 130 whales. Video, for the Guardian. Spoils (long reads and … Read More “Giant whales and collapsing cod stocks: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 29th, 2018” »

Migrating mullet and expanding garbage patches: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 22, 2018

March 22, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow science illustrator Bethann Garramon Merkle on twitter! Great Pacific Garbage Patch is sprawling with more debris than thought. By Oliver Milman, for the Guardian. In Bali fish die-off, a human hand is suspected. By Luh De Suriyana, for MongaBay. Spoils (long reads and deep dives): Mullet Mania. By Michael Patrick O’Neill, … Read More “Migrating mullet and expanding garbage patches: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 22, 2018” »

In South Louisiana, Seafood Means Hope

March 19, 2018April 20, 2018 David Shiffman

Science

This blog post and photo slideshow was created during OCEANDOTCOMM, an ocean science communication event, and supported by the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) The theme of OCEANDOTCOMM was Coastal Optimism. Photos were contributed by our lead photographer, Rafeed Hussain/Ocean Conservancy, with additions from other OCEANDOTCOMM attendees, including Melissa Miller, Samantha Oester, Susan Von Thun, Solomon David, Rebecca Helm, and Alexander Havens.

A sign at the Bait House in Chauvin, Louisiana. Photo by Rafeed Hussain / Ocean Conservancy

In many ways, South Louisiana is seafood- a trip here isn’t complete without eating some gumbo, oysters, or crawfish. Only one state (Alaska) lands more seafood than Louisiana’s 1.2 billion pounds a year (as of 2016). As of 2008, one in 70 jobs in the whole state is tied to fishing or related industries. According to the Louisiana Seafood Marketing and Promotion Board, “when you choose Louisiana seafood, you’re ensuring that your purchase benefits an American community and a way of life.”

When we visited Terrebonne Parish, home to nearly 20 percent of all commercial fishing license holders in Louisiana, we found that fishing means more to the people of this community than food and jobs. Here in South Louisiana, fishing is a vital part of the vibrant local culture and community pride. In a region that’s been devastated by hurricanes and oil spills, fishing is also a source of something more important: hope.

Below, you’ll hear what fishing means to South Louisiana’s fishing communities through the voices of a former shrimper, the owner of a grocery store that has served the town of Chauvin for more than a century, and representatives of a local Native American tribe. You’ll also get a glimpse into this beautiful part of the world through a photo slideshow. Together, this paints a picture of communities that have overcome unimaginable struggle, but still look forward to the future, in no small part because of the riches of the sea.

Endangered turtles and fish venom: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 15, 2018

March 15, 2018March 13, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow marine conservation biologist Julia Spaet on twitter! Nearly half of freshwater turtles are at risk of extinction. By John Platt, for Revelator. Fishing bots “going dark” raise suspicion of illegal fishing. By Scott Neuman, for NPR. Ocean sensors can track progress on climate goals. By Joellen Russell, for Nature News. Spoils (long … Read More “Endangered turtles and fish venom: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 15, 2018” »

This month’s 3D printed reward is a megalodon tooth! Here are 5 things to know about megalodon.

March 14, 2018March 13, 2018 David Shiffman

Education, Science

I recently unveiled a new tier of Patreon rewards: 3D printed shark and ray models! For $17 per month, you will get a monthly 3D printed educational model of different shark or ray parts in the mail, and you’ll be supporting my efforts to provide these models to schools for free.

The first month’s reward comes from one of the most (in)famous sharks of all time, Carcharocles megalodon! The first 3D printed Patreon reward is a meg tooth, an exact copy of the meg tooth that has been used to educate thousands of students at UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum!

Here are some things to know about Carcharocles megalodon!

Announcing new Patreon rewards: 3D printed shark and ray models!

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 David Shiffman

Science

Want to support public education about sharks and rays while getting some one-of-a-kind elasmoswag? Sign up for my latest tier of Patreon rewards! Each month, you’ll receive a 3D printed educational model highlighting various aspects of shark and ray biology in the mail. These models will include: Shark teeth Components of shark jaws Stingray spines … Read More “Announcing new Patreon rewards: 3D printed shark and ray models!” »