james cook university | Southern Fried Science

Long live sharks and rays!

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Guest Writer

Alastair Harry is a fisheries science practitioner based in Perth, Australia. He assists in implementing ecosystem based fisheries management to support the sustainable use of wild-capture fish resources. He is a generalist and works across multiple areas including stock assessment, bycatch, and threatened species. He also holds an adjunct position at James Cook University and has a specific interest in the conservation and sustainable management of sharks and rays.

In August I published a review paper entitled Evidence for systemic age underestimation in shark and ray ageing studies. In it I suggest that many sharks and rays live considerably longer than is currently recognised. This increased life expectancy isn’t due to medical advancements or a more nutritious diet (or even better fisheries management), but rather the result of ageing error.

Shark Science Monday: Sally Whatmough discusses SCUBA diver attitudes towards sharks

Posted on November 15, 2010 by David Shiffman

In this edition of Shark Science Monday, James Cook University researcher Sally Whatmough discusses using content analysis of magazines to track how SCUBA diver attitudes towards sharks have changed over the last fifty years.

If you have a question for Sally, leave it in the comments below.

~WhySharksmatter

Shark Science Monday: Michelle Heupel discusses the need for lethal shark research

Posted on October 4, 2010 by David Shiffman

Last spring, we held an ethical debate focusing on a paper called “Science or Slaughter”. The authors claimed that sometimes it is necessary to kill sharks to answer important scientific questions. One of the authors agreed to be interviewed for Shark Science Monday. Enjoy! As always, feel free to ask questions of the interview subject in the comments and I’ll send them her way.

Apologies for the background noise halfway through the interview- this took place during a World Cup game, and you are hearing excitement from people three floors down in the Providence Convention Center. Background noise filters can only do so much, but what Michelle has to say is important and I wanted to include the entire interview.

~WhySharksMatter