Welcome to World of Sharks, a podcast all about sharks, rays and their underwater habitat brought to you by the Save our Seas Foundation. Forget Jaws – there is SO much more to sharks than their fearsome reputation. Join scientist and shark nerd Dr Isla Hodgson as she chats with leading experts in shark science, conservation and storytelling to take a deep dive into the fascinating world of one of the most diverse, well-adapted, enigmatic, misunderstood and threatened groups of animals on the planet.
Episodes
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
Searching for Sawfish on the Amazonian Coast with Dr Patricia Charvet
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
There is a place where the largest and most powerful river in the world meets the Atlantic ocean, and one of the most threatened species of elasmobranch - the largetooth sawfish - finds one of its last refuges on earth. In this episode of World of Sharks, we are joined by shark scientist and conservationist Dr Patricia Charvet, who has dedicated her life to understanding and protecting sharks and rays in her home country of Brazil. We discuss why the Amazonian coast is such a special place, the astounding diversity of sharks and rays that live there, and why Patricia's passion for the weird, wonderful but Critically Endangered sawfish. We also discuss Patricia's current SOSF-funded project (co-led with Dr Vicente Faria), which seeks to confirm the region as one of the last strongholds for this species, and works across fisheries, government and law enforcement agencies to raise awareness and encourage support for sawfish, and tackle the illegal trade of sawfish products.
You can follow Patricia on Instagram (@patricia.charvet, @amazoniancoastsawfish) and X/Twitter (@PatriciaCharve2, @amcoastsawfish).
You can also find out more about her project here: https://saveourseas.com/project/conserving-largetooth-sawfish-on-the-amazonian-coast/
Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Lemon Sharks: Baby Sharks That Live in Trees with Jillian Morris-Brake
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
When life gives you lemon sharks...make a podcast about them! This week we are answering a request by listener Charlie to devote an episode entirely to warm-water loving Negaprion brevirostris, the lemon shark. And to help us learn everything there is to know about them is marine biologist, educator, author and founder/president of Sharks4Kids, Jillian Morris-Brake, who has a lot of experience with this species and even describes them as her favourite shark!
Expect a journey into the mangrove forest to meet the baby sharks that live among its tangled roots, with detours into shark yoga, social behaviour, and fish bellybuttons...
You can follow Jillian on social media (@biminisharkgirl) and Sharks4Kids (@sharkeducation). You can also find out more about the non-profit and how to get involved here https://www.sharks4kids.com/ and find out more about Project Lemon Aid here https://www.sharks4kids.com/lemon-shark-research
Find the shownotes for this episode here: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
Come say hi to us! You can find us on socials: @saveourseasfoundation (instagram) and @SaveOurSeas (x/twitter)
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thinking of a career in shark science and conservation? Struggling to find your niche? Found your niche, but trying to advance in your field? Or wondering what on earth to write in that email to the person you admire?
We're back with another special episode dedicated to careers with sharks and the ocean. For the last year, we've asked each podcast guest to share their advice and own experiences to help you on your journey. From tips and tricks for writing grants and developing your research interests, to starting your first book, working with collaborators, getting into science communication, and even what to do when you feel stuck in a career rut - there's something for everyone.
You can find the shownotes for this episode, along with additional resources and links, here: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast.
You can also follow us for updates on our grants and fellowships. We are @saveourseasfoundation on instagram, and @SaveOurSeas on X/Twitter.
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Capacity Building for Shark Conservation with Dr Andrew Chin
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
“Conservation is not drones and DNA samples or pamphlets or computers. It is people, and we should be investing in those people.” In this episode of World of Sharks, we sit down with fisheries scientist, director of the Fish and Fisheries Lab at James Cook University and Save Our Seas Foundation Scientific Advisor Dr Andrew Chin to discuss the challenges and realities of shark conservation and management, and how we can support the people working on the ground to make the ocean a better place.
Key time stamps:
5.47: Andrew's early career and swimming with reef sharks
15.43: Sharks of the South Pacific
23.21: Citizen Science
28.27: The importance of feedback and long-term relationships with stakeholders
33.18: Shark Search Indo Pacific
38.31: Conservation in practice and capacity building
46.00: Support for people in the field
Links
Andrew: @spinnershark7
Fish and Fisheries Lab: (https://www.fishandfisheries.com)
Shark Search Indo-Pacific: (https://www.sharksearch-indopacific.org/).
SOSF Conservation Fellowships: https://saveourseas.com/grants/funding-applications/conservation-fellowship
Dan Pallotta's TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong?subtitle=en
You can also find an accessible summary of this episode and more information here: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
Thursday Sep 12, 2024
Megalodon: Inside the Life of a Superpredator with Jack Cooper
Thursday Sep 12, 2024
Thursday Sep 12, 2024
It’s the one you’ve all been waiting for…we’re going back in time to meet the largest shark to have ever existed: Otodus megalodon. Growing up to twenty metres long, with teeth as large as a human hand and jaws that could fit you and a friend (with some room to spare), this apex superpredator continues to capture our attention, despite having been extinct for at least 2.6 million years. But what is the truth behind this gigantic fish? Were they just a beefed-up white shark, or did they look completely different? How did they sustain themselves? Why did this apex superpredator cease to exist, and what did that mean for the prehistoric marine ecosystem? We talk about all of this and so much more with Dr Jack Cooper, paleobiologist and expert in prehistoric sharks!
Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
Follow Jack on X/Twitter (@cooperpaleo) and check out his most recent publications here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=C2zxEm4AAAAJ&hl=en. You can also find out more about the Pimiento Research Group here: https://www.catalinapimiento.com/
You can find out more about the Save Our Seas Foundation on Instagram (@saveourseasfoundation) and X/Twitter (@SaveOurSeas).
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Sharks and rays are found all over the world; from the freezing waters of the Arctic to the tropical Indo-Pacific, and just about everywhere else in between. This means that shark conservation is a global effort, spanning multiple countries, cultures, customs and languages. But did you know that 98% of scientific research is published exclusively in English? In this episode of the World of Sharks podcast, we discuss how linguistic bias can limit shark conservation and the value of publishing and communicating shark science in multiple languages. We are joined by Jaime Penadés-Suay, founder and president of Associacó LAMNA, and Hettie Brown, conservation officer for The Shark Trust. Jaime and Hettie recently collaborated to organise the first 'Wikimaratón de Tiburones y Rayas' (Sharks and Rays Wikimarathon), an event that motivated people from around the world to expand and improve information about elasmobranchs on the digital encyclopedia, publishing over 100 articles in Spanish!
You can read more about Wikimaratón de Tiburones y Rayas here: https://wikimedia.es/mas-de-100-articulos-sobre-tiburones-y-rayas-enriquecen-la-wikipedia-en-espanol/ and here: https://www.sharktrust.org/tiburones-y-rayas
You can also follow the project on Instagram: @rayas_y_tiburones
You can also follow Jaime (@jaimepenades) and LAMNA (@lamnaassociacio) on instagram. You can find Hettie on X/twitter (@hettiemermaid) and The Shark Trust on both instagram (@thesharktrust) and X/twitter (@sharktrustuk)
You can find out more about the Save Our Seas Foundation by heading to www.saveourseas.com or by following us on instagram (@saveourseasfoundation) and X/twitter (@SaveOurSeas).
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Did you know that some sharks can keep parts of their body warm to allow them to move faster, swim for longer, see more clearly and think better?? Or, that basking sharks have a gigantic heart?! This week we are diving into the fascinating world of shark physiology and anatomy to learn about a special trait only found in a handful of species: regional endothermy. To take us on this journey of discovery we are joined by Dr Haley Dolton, marine biologist specialising in the physiology and ecology of large, regionally endothermic fishes!
Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
You can follow Haley on X/Twitter (@haleydolton) or head to her website, www.haleydolton.com
You can find out more about us by heading to www.saveourseas.com, or following us on social media. We are @saveourseasfoundation on Instagram and TikTok, and @SaveOurSeas on X/Twitter.
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
This week on the podcast we are taking a brief detour from sharks to explore the fascinating world of turtles and tortoises! We are diving into the research of SOSF project leader and turtle specialist Alessia Lavigne, who has been trying to understand why turtle and tortoise eggs sometimes fail to hatch. Turtles and tortoises (known collectively as the testudines) are, like sharks, one of the most threatened groups of animals on the planet. Understanding when and why reproduction fails is crucial to ensuring their protection - and Alessia has made huge strides in this area. In this episode we dive deep into her research and learn everything there is to know about these amazing creatures. Plus, we meet some iconic species, including the Aldabra giant tortoise.
Alessia is on instagram and TikTok as @turtle_eggsplorer.
Timestamps:
0-7.00: Intro
7.07-17.11: How did Alessia get into the world of turtle research?
17.28 - 26.20: Turtle biology
26.40 - 32.51: Climate change and other threats
32.00 - 47.00: Alessia's research and reproductive failure
Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
You can find out more about the Save Our Seas Foundation on Instagram and TikTok (@savourseasfoundation) and twitter (@SaveOurSeas).
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Building Safe Spaces for Sharks, and Shark Scientists with Jasmin Graham
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
We welcome back shark scientist and CEO/Co-Founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, Jasmin Graham, and celebrate the release of her new book, Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Scientist. We talk about the incredible adaptations and resilience of sharks, the glorious weirdness of sawfishes - a species Jasmin has worked closely with - and why Jasmin feels innately connected to sharks and compelled to protect them. We also talk about the barriers faced by gender minorities of color in STEM fields, and Jasmin's journey to continue science outside the confines of traditional academia. On this journey, Jasmin co-founded Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) with Carlee Jackson, Amani Webber-Schultz and Jaida Elcock, to promote diversity and inclusion in shark research. We discuss how MISS has grown into a global community, and how Jasmin and her fellow co-founders have built a safe, accessible and welcoming space for the good of people and sharks.
Sharks Don't Sink is available now: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/726129/sharks-dont-sink-by-jasmin-graham/. You can follow along with Jasmin’s work on her website (www.learningwithjasmin.org) or on X/Twitter (@elasmo_gal).
You can also find out more about Minorities in Shark Sciences and how to get involved here: www.misselasmo.org. Or, you can follow them on social media (@miss_elasmo).
Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
You can also find out more about the Save Our Seas Foundation by heading to www.saveourseas.com or follow us on instagram (@saveourseasfoundation) and X/Twitter (@SaveOurSeas).
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
In the Field: Basking Sharks with Dr Alexandra McInturf
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
We are so excited to share with you a very special bonus episode of World of Sharks! Join us as we head into the field in search of the second largest species of shark in the world: the basking shark. We’ll be heading out on the boat with Dr Alex McInturf (@drsurfnturf), shark scientist at the Chapple Big Fish Lab (@big_fish_lab), SOSF project leader and project coordinator for the Irish Basking Shark Group (@baskingirish). You'll be right there with us as we conduct some basking shark research, and you'll learn what it's like to tag, track, ultrasound and swim with a 32 foot (10m) shark in the wild.
Keep up to date with Alex here: https://alexandramcinturf.squarespace.com, find out more about Taylor and the Big Fish Lab here: https://marineresearch.oregonstate.edu/chapple-lab and the Irish Basking Shark Group here: https://www.baskingshark.ie/
Key timestamps:
2.25 - Heading out on the boat and Alex's research
8.47 - Finding basking sharks
17.02 - Tagging
32.48 - Active tracking
38.35 - Ultrasounding
44.13 - Social behaviour
50.00 - Basking shark threats and conservation
Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast
Follow Save Our Seas Foundation on instagram (@saveourseasfoundation) and x/twitter (@SaveOurSeas). You can also head to www.saveourseas.com