Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation

Dr. Clova Mabin never set out to become a shark educator. She grew up on Scotland's windswept, freezing beaches with no TV until she was 13, which meant a childhood spent outside with her nature-loving father, and an honors degree in zoology from the University of Edinburgh that ended up focused on bird behavior, not the ocean, simply because no marine supervisor was available. A three-month marine conservation placement in Madagascar gave her a first taste of the field. A chance meeting with a South African at a Scottish aquarium turned what was meant to be a three-month trip to South Africa into 21 years and counting. Today she's the Education Centre Director at the Save Our Seas Foundation's Shark Education Centre in Kalk Bay, leading a team that's grown from six people to more than a dozen. Andrew and Dave trace the whole winding route with her: two weeks with ragged-tooth and tiger sharks on South Africa's East Coast and two and a half months working alongside Michael Scholl aboard the White Shark Trust's research vessel in Gansbaai, a detour into wildlife filmmaking that included a National Geographic shoot and three and a half years working under a longtime BBC Natural History Unit cinematographer, and a pivotal moment watching a mass whale stranding near her home in Hout Bay that made her question whether chasing dramatic film footage was really the work she wanted to do. From there it was a master's in conservation biology at the University of Cape Town studying invasive species hitching rides on yachts, a solo-adjacent transatlantic sailing crossing from Martinique to the Azores as a break between degrees despite never having spent a night at sea before, and a PhD at Stellenbosch spent leading a team that pulled 36,000 invasive European shore crabs out of a harbor whose official population estimate was 6,000, research that fed directly into South African invasive species legislation. She finished writing it up nine months after her first daughter was born. Clova also talks candidly about applying for a different role at Save Our Seas and not getting it, only to be asked to step into the director's chair six months later, starting the job four months pregnant with her second daughter, and what it's meant to grow an education team into portfolios covering facilities, digital engagement, a nutrition program that feeds the school groups who visit, and a new research arm focused on how ocean connection shapes kids' lives. It's a conversation about what an unconventional, occasionally "unhinged" career path can look like when you say yes to almost everything that comes your way. Takeaways: Clova Mabin is the Education Centre Director at the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Education Centre in Kalk Bay, South Africa, a role she's held since 2019 after previously applying for and not getting a different position there. Her path to shark education ran through bird behavior research, invasive species work, a transatlantic sailing crossing, and several years in wildlife filmmaking, not a straight line through shark biology. Her PhD team removed roughly 36,000 invasive European shore crabs from a harbor with an official population estimate of 6,000, research that directly informed South African invasive species legislation. A mass whale stranding near her home in Cape Town became the turning point that pushed her out of wildlife filmmaking and back into graduate school. The Shark Education Centre's team has grown from six people to more than a dozen, now organized into education, facilities, digital engagement, nutrition, and a newly added research arm. Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Education Centre (Kalk Bay) Website: saveourseas.com/sosf-shark-education-centre Instagram: @sharkeducationcentre Facebook: SOSFsharkeducationcentre TikTok: @sharkeducationcentre LinkedIn: Shark Centre X (formerly Twitter): @sharkcentre Save Our Seas Foundation (global) Website: saveourseas.com Instagram: @saveourseasfoundation Facebook: saveourseasngo YouTube: youtube.com/saveourseas LinkedIn: Save Our Seas Foundation Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Every shark course needs a bible, and this one just got a second edition. Five years after the first Shark Biology and Conservation: Essentials for Educators, Students, and Enthusiasts landed on shelves and in classrooms, co-authors Dan Abel, Dean Grubbs, Tristan Guttridge, and Josh Moyer rebuilt it from the ground up: new chapters, new contributed essays from researchers around the world, and two co-authors who weren't part of the original book at all. Three of the four join Andrew and Dave (Dean's internet dropped him from the call, but he's credited throughout) to talk about why a book that was already considered the accessible alternative to a dense academic textbook needed a full rewrite so soon. Dan walks through where the book started, a shark biology course he and Dean taught together at the Bimini Biological Field Station, and why they brought in fresh voices for the second edition instead of writing it alone again. Tristan and Josh talk about what it was like joining an established two-author project, the freedom they were given to shape their own chapters on behavior and sensory biology, and the unglamorous realities of textbook publishing: turnover with editors, humor that gets cut by copy editors who remind you that you're a scientist, not a comedian, and illustrators like Elise Pullen and Marc Dando who redraw a shark's fin position a tenth of a percent at a time until it's right. Josh also shares how he ended up adopting the first edition for his own shark biology course at Yale, and how that classroom experience shaped what he pushed for in the second edition. The conversation closes with each author's advice for readers, professors deciding how to structure a course around the book, and a look at what's next: a batoid biology book from Dean and Dan, a title called How Sharks Work from Dan and Josh, and Tristan's focus for now on building a research field station in the Bahamas rather than a fifth book. It's a fun, candid look at what actually goes into building the reference book an entire field ends up using. Takeaways: Shark Biology and Conservation is now in its second edition from four co-authors, Dan Abel, Dean Grubbs, Tristan Guttridge, and Josh Moyer, illustrated by Elise Pullen and Marc Dando, published by Hopkins Press. The second edition added two new co-authors and dozens of contributed mini-essays from researchers worldwide specifically to bring in fresh perspectives Dan and Dean felt they'd already exhausted after the first edition. Co-authors got real creative freedom: Tristan and Josh were each given latitude to shape their own chapters (behavior and cognition for Tristan, sensory biology for Josh) rather than being handed a rigid outline. Textbook publishing has real friction most readers never see: editor turnover, cut jokes, and illustrators redrawing figures repeatedly to get anatomical details right, all without royalties for the original artwork licensed into the second edition. The authors' shared advice to readers: don't stop at what the book says. If a fact or figure interests you, go track down the primary source. Website: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53846/shark-biology-and-conservation Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Dr. Issah Seidu didn't set out to become West Africa's first dedicated shark and ray scientist. He started his career studying dragonflies, damselflies, amphibians, and even elephants and crocodiles as a terrestrial wildlife biologist in Ghana, a country whose university programs, like most in the region, simply didn't study marine species. That changed on a visit to his uncle, a fisherman in a coastal community, where he watched sharks and rays being landed and sold on the beach and realized nobody in Ghana, or almost anywhere in West Africa, was studying them at all. Today he's the founder and team leader of AquaLife Conservancy, a lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Regional Vice-Chair for Africa on the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, and a 2026 Whitley Award winner, one of conservation's most prestigious honors, for his work protecting Ghana's guitarfish. Andrew and Dave talk with Issah about what it actually takes to build a conservation program where none existed before: the funding that mostly has to come from outside the country, the near-total absence of local mentors in his field, and the years it took just to convince his first fishing partners that his research wasn't a threat to their livelihoods. Issah walks through the hard math behind his work, sawfish already functionally extinct in Ghanaian waters, wedgefish not seen since around 2010, and four species of guitarfish now at real risk of following them, and explains why Ghana's own high demand for shark and ray meat as a protein source makes this a food security question as much as a conservation one. He also shares how a broad early career studying insects and amphibians turned out to be the best possible training for pioneering an entirely new field, and what he tells young African conservationists who ask him how to get started with no roadmap at all. This is a conversation about what it looks like to build shark science in a part of the world that the field has largely overlooked, told by someone doing it in real time, with real fishing communities, on a coastline most Western listeners have never heard mentioned in the same sentence as sharks. Takeaways: Ghana has four documented guitarfish species (common, white-spotted, blackchin, and spineback), and Issah's research shows they're on the same extinction trajectory that already claimed the country's sawfish and wedgefish populations. Sawfish are functionally extinct in Ghana, with no confirmed sighting since the 1980s; wedgefish haven't been caught since around 2010. Building trust with fishing communities took years, not months. Issah's first two committed fishing partners took roughly six months of repeated visits and conversations to win over. Ghana's own high domestic demand for shark and ray meat as a protein source, not just export markets, is a central driver of the fishing pressure Issah is trying to manage. Issah's advice to young conservationists starting out with no local mentors or funding: be bold, be committed, and above all be persistent, since changing fishing behavior takes years of sustained relationship-building. Connect with Issa Seidu: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antwiseidu88/ Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Dr. Chris Dudgeon has spent more than two decades studying some of the ocean's strangest and least understood sharks, from the reef-walking Hemiscyllium species of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to the shape-shifting zebra shark that spends its youth striped and its adulthood spotted. In this episode, hosts Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert sit down with Chris, a senior researcher who bridges evolutionary biology, population genetics, and applied conservation, to unpack why a single species can carry two completely different common names, how a newly discovered walking shark came to be named after her, and what it actually took to build a rewilding program from scratch. The conversation traces Chris's path from a landlocked childhood in Canberra to the front lines of Australian shark science, including her role as a founding member of the Oceania Chondrichthyan Society and her work describing new walking shark species alongside taxonomist Gerry Allen. She walks through the surprising biogeography of Papua New Guinea's walking sharks, where distinct species turn up within a short distance of each other with no obvious barrier explaining the split, and the practical realities of doing fieldwork where saltwater crocodiles share the water. The back half of the episode is devoted to the StAR Project, the rewilding effort that raises zebra shark pups from eggs supplied by aquariums around the world and releases them into the wild in Indonesia and Thailand, and to the taxonomic history behind why scientists now call the species Stegostoma tigrinum rather than Stegostoma fasciatum . Along the way, Chris shares a personal tribute to her late PhD supervisor, Janet Lanyon, reflects on what it means to build a research career with no roadmap to follow, and offers direct advice for the next generation of aspiring marine scientists. It is a wide-ranging look at how careful taxonomy, genetics, and community partnerships come together to protect species most people have never heard of, let alone seen. Takeaways Zebra sharks and leopard sharks are common names for the same Indo-Pacific species, Stegostoma tigrinum , which is striped as a juvenile and spotted as an adult; the confusion exists because a completely unrelated species, Triakis semifasciata , is also called a leopard shark in the eastern Pacific. A 2018 taxonomic review found that the species' correct scientific name should be Stegostoma tigrinum , not Stegostoma fasciatum , because an earlier valid name had been overlooked. Walking sharks (genus Hemiscyllium ) use their pectoral and pelvic fins to "walk" across reef flats, mostly at night, and new species are still being described in Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. A newly described walking shark species was named after Chris by her own PhD student, Jess Blakeway. The StAR Project (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery) rewilds zebra sharks bred from aquarium-supplied eggs, with active hatchery and release programs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia and the Gulf of Thailand. Chris was a founding member of the Oceania Chondrichthyan Society in the mid-2000s, part of a small cohort of students who built the region's shark research community largely from scratch. Chris's advice for aspiring marine scientists: pick an understudied species to build genuine expertise faster, expect the path to feel anything but linear, and be prepared to figure things out without a roadmap. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Walking sharks are one of the strangest small predators on the reef: pectoral fins built for crawling across coral flats at low tide, distributions so narrow some species live in a single bay, and a family tree that's still being filled in. In this episode, Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert are joined by Jess Blakeway, a PhD candidate at the University of the Sunshine Coast, whose research on the distribution, ecology, and biology of walking sharks (genus Hemiscyllium) in Papua New Guinea has already led to a new species discovery. Jess walks through her path from volunteering with sea turtles in PNG to noticing a walking shark outside its known range, emailing shark scientist Christine Dudgeon out of the blue, and eventually joining her as a PhD student. That relationship led to the description of Hemiscyllium dudgeonae, or Dudgeon's walking shark, named in honor of her supervisor. Jess and the hosts also dig into why these sharks have such tiny, non-overlapping ranges, how researchers tell nearly identical-looking species apart using color pattern, genetics, and geography, and the ongoing mix-up between "zebra sharks" and "leopard sharks," which turn out to be the same animal at different life stages. It's a fun, detail-rich conversation about what it actually looks like to find a new species in the field, what happens after that moment (specimen collection, museum deposits, taxonomic description), and what Jess has planned for her postdoc research. Takeaways: Papua New Guinea and northern Australia are home to all 10 known species of walking shark, each with a highly restricted range shaped by deep-water barriers, freshwater outflows, and shallow-water habitat limits. Jess Blakeway co-described Hemiscyllium dudgeonae, a newly recognized walking shark species named after her supervisor Christine Dudgeon. Because walking sharks look nearly identical morphologically, researchers rely on color pattern, genetics, and geography, not body shape, to tell species apart. Zebra sharks and leopard sharks are the same species (Stegostoma tigrinum): striped as juveniles, spotted as adults. Some walking shark distributions overlap without the species actually co-occurring, raising open questions about how isolation and reef geography shaped their evolution. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

It's Shark Week season again, and Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert are joined for the third year running by Jesse Colaizzi, an award-winning television documentary producer, senior editor, and director of photography who works closely with Forrest Galante. Jesse pulls back the curtain on how a Shark Week episode actually comes together, from scouting locations to the final cut. Jesse joins the show remotely from Gujarat, India, where he is showrunning and editing Vantara's Sanctuary Stories, before turning to his newest project, Alien Sharks: Untamed America, premiering Wednesday, July 29th on Discovery. Built around America's 250th anniversary, the episode traces a journey across the country in search of cryptic and lesser known sharks, including white sharks off Diablo Canyon, a California horn shark, a swell shark located after months of searching, a guitar fish, bonnethead sharks, a swarm of blacktip sharks, a rediscovered tagged sawfish with researcher Dean Grubbs, and a basking shark in Cape Cod Harbor. Along the way, Jesse and the hosts dig into what editors notice that scientists and viewers often miss: coordinated hunting behavior in sharks, how white sharks react to a drone's shadow on the water, the technical tricks used to slow down fast-moving animals on camera, and how years of watching raw footage trained Jesse to read animal behavior the way a birder reads bird behavior. Jesse also shares stories from filming rescued and rehabilitated animals in India, the discipline it takes to run multiple shows at once, and why this year's episode leans into American wildlife, from bison to elk to the Statue of Liberty, rather than the usual landmarks. Key Takeaways Jesse Colaizzi is an award-winning producer, senior editor, and director of photography who works with Forrest Galante on Shark Week and Discovery Channel programming, including Extinct or Alive and Alien Sharks. Alien Sharks: Untamed America premieres Wednesday, July 29th and is built around an America 250 theme, spotlighting cryptic and lesser-known native sharks across the country. The team tracked white sharks, a California horn shark, leopard sharks, a swell shark, a guitar fish, bonnethead sharks, blacktip sharks, a sawfish tagged in partnership with researcher Dean Grubbs, and a basking shark in Cape Cod Harbor. Editors and camera crews rely on subtle behavioral cues, frame rate tricks, and instinct to capture usable footage of fast-moving, unpredictable animals in the wild. White sharks have been observed reacting to the shadow of a filming drone, a small but telling example of how visual and behavioral cues shape what ends up on screen. Sharks display coordinated group behavior when hunting, echoing patterns Dr. David Ebert has documented in his own research on pack hunting. Jesse is currently based in Gujarat, India, working on Vantara's Sanctuary Stories, a series focused on rescued and rehabilitated animals and the conditioning process used to care for them. This year's episode centers the Statue of Liberty and iconic American wildlife such as bison and elk instead of typical landmark imagery, offering a nature-first take on the America 250 theme. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Dr. Julia Constance is back on Beyond Jaws, and this time she's joining hosts Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert as Dr. Constance. Julia returns fresh off completing her PhD on the natural mortality and movement ecology of two of the world's least understood sharks: the speartooth shark and the northern river shark, both found almost nowhere outside northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. Using a long-running acoustic telemetry dataset built by her supervisor since 2013, Julia tracked around 200 tagged sharks across Northern Territory river systems, some for up to a decade, to understand how these animals move, where they go, and what puts them at risk. The conversation digs into just how little is still known about these sharks once they leave the rivers as adults. Julia explains how individuals vanish from the tracking data for years at a time before reappearing at a river mouth, with almost no confirmed sightings of adults in the open marine environment. She and the hosts also compare the relatively stable status of Australia's river sharks to their close relative, the Ganges shark, a species so rare and poorly documented that even basic facts about its biology are borrowed from research on its Australian cousins. Along the way, Julia and Andrew share what it's actually like to do this fieldwork: murky, chocolate colored water, gear retrieval by feel instead of by sight, and working in rivers that hold the largest population of saltwater crocodiles on the planet. The episode also touches on a real and growing concern: proposed water resource development on the Adelaide River, home to the largest known population of speartooth sharks anywhere in the world, and what that could mean for a species already living in an extremely narrow habitat. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

For decades, stunning shark photographs have shaped the way millions of people think about these misunderstood predators. But behind every unforgettable image is a story that rarely gets told. In this episode of Beyond Jaws , we sit down with Manique Fallows to explore the passion, patience, and purpose behind a life dedicated to sharks. Monique shares how photography became more than a way to capture wildlife. It became a powerful tool for conservation, storytelling, and helping people connect with animals they often fear. We also talk about her work as an author, her experiences in the field, and what it is like building a life around some of the ocean's most iconic species. Whether you love sharks, wildlife photography, or inspiring stories from people making a difference for the ocean, this conversation offers a fresh perspective. You'll come away with a deeper appreciation for the people behind the lens and why their work matters now more than ever. Website: https://saltyseadogbooks.com/ Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Dave Ebert returns from a five-week journey across South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, sharing stories from shark research, Sharks International, mentoring young scientists, and the search for lost sharks. This episode explores why taxonomy still matters, how new shark and ray species are still being discovered, and why the future of shark science depends on training the next generation. Shark science, shark conservation, Beyond Jaws, Dave Ebert, lost sharks, new shark species, guitarfish, South Africa sharks, Sri Lanka sharks, Sharks International, marine biology, ocean science, shark research, taxonomy, chondrichthyans, marine conservation, Save Our Seas Foundation, Maldives diving, science communication. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Ocean careers rarely follow a straight line. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Dave Ebert takes over the host chair to interview Andrew Lewin about his career journey, from marine biology and consulting to podcasting, science communication, and his new role as Ocean Communications Manager with Pisces Ocean. Andrew shares how choosing family, living away from the coast, and building a podcast over many years helped shape a different kind of ocean career. The episode explores why storytelling matters in marine conservation, how podcasting can build real professional networks, and why science communication is becoming a powerful tool for ocean impact. This episode is for anyone trying to build a career in marine science, ocean conservation, science communication, or environmental storytelling, especially if your path does not look traditional. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Great white sharks have disappeared from some of South Africa's most famous shark hotspots, but the reason may not be as simple as the popular story suggests. In this episode, Chris Fallows returns to talk about orcas, white sharks, shark nets, longline fisheries, and the uncomfortable possibility that humans played a much larger role than many people want to admit. This conversation looks beyond the headline of orcas hunting great whites and asks a harder question: what happens when we focus on the predator we cannot control while ignoring the human systems we can? From False Bay to Gansbaai to the broader South African coastline, this episode explores how shark conservation, fisheries, tourism, photography, and public storytelling collide when an iconic predator starts to vanish. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Ocean Conservation feels like it's everywhere, but are we actually making a difference, or just telling ourselves we are? In this episode, we break down what really works in ocean protection and why so many well-intentioned efforts fall short. If you care about the ocean but feel overwhelmed by conflicting messages, this conversation will help you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. Marine Science meets real-world impact as Daniel Fernando shares lessons from the field, including the challenges of balancing conservation with human needs. From working with communities to understanding how policies succeed or fail, this episode reveals the hidden systems that determine whether ocean protection actually works or becomes just another empty promise. Shark Conservation takes center stage as we connect this conversation to global efforts like Sharks International 2026 , where scientists, conservationists, and policymakers come together to share what is actually working for shark protection. These events highlight a critical truth: success is not just about research, it is about collaboration, trust, and turning science into action that benefits both sharks and people. Sustainable Ocean Action is more than awareness, it is about making decisions that lead to measurable results. One surprising insight from this episode: some conservation efforts can fail not because people do not care, but because they are designed without understanding the people they affect most. That tension changes everything about how we should approach saving the ocean.

Shark Conservation What happens when an entire coastline is full of species we barely understand, and almost no one is studying them? In this episode of Beyond Jaws, we speak with Ghofrane Labyedh, a rising shark scientist originally from Tunisia who is helping build shark and ray research in Cameroon. You'll hear how she entered marine science, why West Africa remains one of the least understood regions for sharks and rays, and what it takes to create science where little existed before. Marine Biology Careers Ghofrane shares the realities of doing fieldwork, building trust with local communities, working with fishers, and navigating the challenges of conservation in developing research systems. Her story shows that ocean science is not only about data, it is also about people, persistence, and creating opportunities where others see barriers. Women In Science one of the most inspiring moments in this episode is hearing how a young scientist from North Africa is helping lead change in a region where shark research has long been overlooked. It is a reminder that the future of conservation may come from voices the world has ignored for too long. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Shark Conservation What happens when one unexpected opportunity completely changes your career path, and why does that matter for the future of sharks? In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, Zoya Tyabji shares how her journey began in island conservation work and led her into the world of shark and ray research in India. You'll hear how curiosity, timing, and taking risks opened doors she never expected. Shark Research India Zoya explains the hidden realities of shark fisheries, trade, and conservation challenges in one of the world's most important marine regions. Her work combines science, community engagement, and real-world solutions that can help protect vulnerable species while supporting people who depend on the ocean. This conversation reveals why shark conservation is never just about sharks. Women in Science One of the most powerful insights in this episode is that Zoya did not start out chasing a shark career at all, she built it step by step by saying yes to opportunities. That reminder can change how anyone thinks about their own future. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Shark conservation often feels like something only experts or elite scientists can do, but what if one unexpected decision could completely change your life and impact an entire ecosystem? In this episode, we unpack how a student who never planned to study the ocean ended up leading a major conservation effort focused on thresher sharks in Indonesia, and why his journey matters for anyone trying to build a meaningful career. Marine biology careers are rarely linear, and this story proves it. From struggling to find direction to discovering purpose through internships and hands-on experience, Raffid Shidqi shows how curiosity, persistence, and taking chances can open doors you didn't even know existed. You'll hear how he built an organization with 25 local staff, why community-based conservation is essential, and how real change happens on the ground. Ocean conservation impact becomes real when local people lead the work, and that's exactly what makes this story powerful. One surprising insight from this episode is that Raffid didn't start with a clear plan or passion for sharks, he developed it through exposure and opportunity, which challenges the idea that you need everything figured out before you begin. Listen to the full episode. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Sawfish conservation might be one of the most overlooked stories in the ocean, but what scientists are discovering right now could completely change how we think about their future. For years, sawfish were believed to be disappearing beyond recovery, but new findings suggest something very different is happening beneath the surface. Endangered sawfish populations have been pushed to the brink by fishing pressure, habitat loss, and near total public neglect. But in certain regions, researchers like Rachel Graham are starting to uncover something unexpected, sawfish are still there, and in some cases, they may even be returning. This episode breaks down where they're being found, why it matters, and what it tells us about conservation actually working. Surprising Insight: One of the most endangered marine animals on Earth may be recovering in places where scientists thought it had already disappeared. Marine conservation success stories like this are rare, and they don't happen by chance. They happen when science, local communities, and long-term protection come together in the right way, even for species most people have never heard of. Listen to the full episode.

Devil rays are some of the most mysterious animals in the ocean, yet most people have never heard of them. In this episode, we sit down with marine scientist Marta Palacios to uncover what makes these animals so unique and why they need protection. From their behavior to the threats they face, this conversation reveals why devil rays deserve far more attention in ocean conservation. Marine biology careers don't always follow a straight path, and Marta's journey proves it. Moving from Spain to La Paz, Mexico, she turned a passion for diving into a career studying mobulid rays. We break down how she built her career, what it's like working in the field, and what early-career scientists can learn from her experience. Ocean conservation depends on people who are willing to take risks, follow their curiosity, and commit to protecting species that most people overlook. Devil rays may not get the spotlight like sharks or whales, but they are just as important to ocean ecosystems, and their future depends on better awareness and action. 👉 Listen to the full episode and learn how you can be part of ocean conservation. Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Tiger sharks are some of the most recognizable predators in the ocean, but scientists are still uncovering how these animals move through their environment. In this episode of Beyond Jaws , marine scientist Dr. Rachel Graham shares insights from tiger shark tracking research that is helping scientists understand how these sharks migrate, where they spend their time, and why these movements matter for conservation. By following tiger sharks across the ocean, researchers are revealing patterns that challenge what we thought we knew about shark behavior. These discoveries are helping scientists design better conservation strategies and understand the role tiger sharks play in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. If you care about sharks, ocean science, and marine conservation, this conversation offers a fascinating look into the real lives of one of the ocean's most iconic predators. Subscribe for more shark science and conservation stories on Beyond Jaws .

Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, yet scientists still know surprisingly little about how they live, migrate, and survive. In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, we explore why one of the most iconic animals in the ocean remains scientifically mysterious. Marine researcher Stella Diamant joins the show to explain how studying whale sharks in Madagascar is revealing new insights about their behavior, habitat, and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing ocean. Madagascar Whale Shark Project is uncovering discoveries that could reshape how we protect these gentle giants. Stella shares how she first became inspired to study whale sharks and how collaborations with scientists and organizations like the Marine Megafauna Foundation are helping build one of the most important research programs in the region. From identifying individual sharks to understanding seasonal aggregations, the conversation highlights how field science is slowly solving some of the biggest mysteries about these massive animals. Whale Shark Research reveals a surprising truth: despite their enormous size and global popularity, whale sharks remain one of the least understood large marine animals on Earth. One of the most striking insights from this episode is that many key aspects of their life history, including where they reproduce and where juveniles spend their early years, are still largely unknown. That knowledge gap makes ongoing research projects like the one in Madagascar essential for future conservation. Listen to the full episode. Website: https://www.madawhalesharks.org/ Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV

Shark Science Career is brutally competitive, and many graduates struggle to find paid work after university. So what happens when passion meets rejection? In this episode of Beyond Jaws, shark scientist Kristian Parton shares how he went from struggling to land a job in the field to building one of the fastest growing shark science channels on YouTube, Shark Bytes, now with over 180,000 subscribers. Shark Bytes YouTube did not begin as a master plan. It started as a creative outlet after graduation, when traditional career paths were not opening up. Kristian explains how combining entertainment with real science allowed him to reach a global audience, dispel shark myths, analyze viral shark videos, and create financial freedom through science communication. One surprising insight from this episode: Christian's first scuba dive ever included an oceanic whitetip shark encounter, a rare and life changing moment that permanently shaped his career direction. That single underwater experience helped define his life's work. If you care about shark conservation, science communication, or building your own path in marine biology, this episode will challenge how you think about career success in ocean science. Listen to the full episode. Kristian's YouTube Channel, Shark Bytes: https://www.youtube.com/@SHARKBYTES Connect with us: Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591 Dave: Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lostsharkguy Andrew: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpForBlueTV