Ocean News

The conservation of sharks and their ecosystems is not a “one size fits all” type of problem. Not only are sharks as a taxonomic group incredibly diverse, but so are the values they represent. Trying to protect sharks…

All ecosystems represent a complex web of relationships that have slowly evolved during the infinite passage of time. In some places the nature of these relationships shifts gradually due to seasonal or climatic changes, but in certain coastal environments the changing of the tide governs a daily pattern of behaviour…

After almost two years in the making, SARA’s sawfish display cases are officially being assembled. In mid-2018, SARA received almost 150 sawfish saws as donations from Queensland Fisheries and members of the general public. Now the ultimate question:…

Where do female sharks give birth? How big or how small are shark pups when they are born? How do the pups survive their first months of life? What do they eat? For viviparous (live-bearing) sharks these questions are mostly unanswered. The reason? The pups of most shark species are…

Environmental DNA (eDNA) research is more than simply taking water samples and magically finding out if your target species was detected. Being sure your team is using the latest, most sensitive methods and taking steps to avoid false…

Situated in the deep south of the Maldives lies an atoll unlike any other. Isolated far from any other land, made up of just a single island and encompassed by plunging reef walls, Fuvahmulah Atoll is a special…

A look into the effects of temperature and exploitation on fish activity  A recent technical leap in the watch industry has led to the popularity of “Fitbits” allowing us humans to constantly track our day-to-day activities through metrics…

Sometimes the best way to endure the routine of a biologist is to escape from it. I like to visit the port whenever I have a free day during the week. If I know that this is going…

If you happen to venture out on a shark cage diving boat in Gansbaai, instead of the once common glimpses of grey and white, you might find your eyes drawn to flashes of bronze. Given the recent, presumedly…

If you are unfamiliar with epigenetics and haven’t read the “What is epigenetics?” blog, please check it out here. Environments are complex, the weather is constantly changing, the temperature, salinity, and disturbances encountered by organisms can change daily…

Proof that one person really can make all the difference   As tempted as I was to kick this off with some famous quote by a legendary historical figure about the value and importance of education, I will…

One of the keys to success in science and conservation is to establish good and strong collaborations across the board. Science is, unfortunately, a rare and difficult activity, and adding together the experience, skills and resources of several…