David Shiffman

Vote for Sophi: List of Oceana Ocean Hero finalists includes 8 year old shark conservationist

May 24, 2011May 22, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Oceana has released their list of finalists for the Ocean Hero award. As always, the finalists represent people who have done some amazing things for our oceans. This year, one of the nominees for the “Junior Hero” category is Sophi Bromenshenkel, an 8 year old shark conservationist.

Shark Science Monday: Claudia Li discusses Shark Truth’s ‘no shark fin soup’ wedding contests

May 23, 2011May 23, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Conservation, Science

In this week’s edition of Shark Science Monday, Claudia Li of Shark Truth discusses the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest, which aims to reduce the consumption of shark fin soup at wedding banquets. If you have a question for Claudia, leave it as a comment below and I’ll make sure she gets it.

Science to action: A scientist’s guide to influencing decision making

May 17, 2011May 17, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

This week at the International Marine Conservation Congress, a great resource was introduced. Science to Action, an affiliate of Conservation International, released a dual volume called “A scientist’s guide to influencing decision making /a decision maker’s guide to using science”.

New Ocean Acidification PSA

May 17, 2011May 17, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

This morning, Plymouth Marine Laboratory launched a new public service announcement about ocean acidification entitled “Connecting science, industry, policy and public”. According to the Official MPA Blog:

Off to the International Marine Conservation Congress!

May 12, 2011May 12, 2011 David Shiffman 2 Comments

Conservation

I’m on my way to the 2nd International Marine Conservation Congress in Victoria, British Columbia. This gathering, organized by the Society for Conservation Biology, brings together leading scientists and conservationists from around the world.

Full video of injured shark shows numerous natural injuries

May 3, 2011May 10, 2011 David Shiffman 101 Comments

Science

Junior-244x300 — Junior the Great White shark, before and (long) after being caught by Dr. Domeier's team. Image courtesy FijiSharkDiving.Blogspot.com

Several months ago, still photographs showing an injured great white shark surfaced. The shark in question was previously captured by a shark research team lead by Dr. Michael Domeier on the TV show “Shark Men” – and the capture of this shark didn’t go as planned. These still images were taken from a video, and in response to the ensuing controversy, Dr. Domeier’s team claimed that when the full video is viewed, you can see that the injury comes from another shark and not from capture injury. No clear sharkbite injuries are visible in the original still image.

I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for the full video, which had been in the possession of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries pending an investigation.

Here, for the first time available to the public, is the full video from which the above images were taken.

Book Review: Saving the Oceans 101

April 28, 2011April 28, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Conservation, Science

Ted Danson (yes, that Ted Danson) isn’t your typical ocean activist. Though he is best known as the bartender on Cheers, he has been actively involved in marine conservation issues for more than 25 years. While living in California to work on Cheers, he took a walk on the beach with his daughters. When they came across a sign that read “water polluted, no swimming”, he didn’t know how to explain to his disappointed children what was wrong with the ocean. He decided to learn more, began to work with local scientists and conservationists, and eventually co-founded the American Oceans Campaign (one of the founding members of Oceana) Danson’s decades of knowledge of and passion for the oceans are clear in his new book, “Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans And What We Can Do to Save Them”.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Once Upon a Tide

April 28, 2011April 6, 2011 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from Kathleen Frith of Harvard Medical School. It tells the story of a spell that has been cast on the world to make us forget the ocean, and a little girl who tries to remember.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: What’s Up With Our Oceans?

April 25, 2011April 28, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from University of Southern California student Jennah Caster. It asks a simple but important question, what’s up with our oceans, and attempts to answer it. If you have a question for the filmmaker, please leave it as a comment and I’ll make sure she gets it. … Read More “Beneath the Waves Film Festival: What’s Up With Our Oceans?” »

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Porbeagles in Peril

April 22, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from UK filmmaker Simon Spear of “View From the Blue”. Porbeagles in Peril explains the plight of the porbeagle shark, a relative of the great white, in UK waters.