Exploring the Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, and Chimeras of North America
Release Date: 05/08/2024
How to Network at Marine Science Conferences Like a Pro
How To Protect The Ocean
Conferences can feel intimidating, expensive, and overwhelming, especially if networking doesn't come naturally to you. In this episode, Andrew shares what more than a decade of attending marine science and conservation conferences has taught him about making real connections, from picking the right event for your career stage to crafting an elevator pitch that actually works. Andrew walks through how to choose a conference that fits your specific field, why in-person events build stronger professional relationships than virtual ones, and why even seasoned scientists like Dr. David Ebert still...
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Marineland Canada Shuts Down: The Beluga Whale Rescue Begins
How To Protect The Ocean
Marineland Canada is officially closing, and this week the park began moving its remaining beluga whales out of Niagara Falls. Six belugas were flown out on a single flight this week, four to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two to SeaWorld San Antonio, marking the start of a rescue effort that has been years in the making. Andrew walks through how the park got here, from its 1961 founding through decades of protests, whistleblower allegations, OSPCA charges, and a failed 2025 attempt to export the belugas to a Chinese aquarium. The episode traces the full timeline: the 2012 Toronto Star...
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American Samoa Said No to Deep-Sea Mining. The US Government Doubled The Area
How To Protect The Ocean
The US government is moving toward the world's first commercial deep-sea mining lease sale, and it's happening in federal waters off American Samoa. In this episode, Andrew breaks down how we got here: a California startup's 2025 request to mine polymetallic nodules, the Request for Information process that followed, and the 75,000-plus public comments that came in during the 30-day comment window, with 80 to 98% opposed to mining. Despite that opposition, and despite a standing moratorium from American Samoa's own governor, the federal government expanded the proposed mining area from 18...
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Ghost Nets: Why They Keep Happening and What's Actually Working
How To Protect The Ocean
A viral TikTok about fish aggregation devices drifting into marine protected areas got Andrew thinking about a topic he hasn't covered in a while: ghost nets. In this episode, he breaks down what ghost nets actually are, the scientific term for them (ALDFG, or abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear), and why they're a growing, well-documented problem from the ocean surface all the way down to the deep seafloor. Andrew walks through what the peer-reviewed research shows: entanglement patterns across whales, seals, sea turtles, and coral reefs, a personal diving story off Big...
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What the Wildfire Smoke in Your Sky Has to Do With the Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
For a week straight, Andrew watched his own sky turn orange outside Toronto as smoke from nearly 900 wildfires burning across Canada, most of them following the boreal forest from the east coast to Northwestern Ontario, drifted south into the US and back again. He walks through what actually happened on the ground: which towns and First Nations were evacuated, how bad the air quality got (Toronto briefly had the worst AQI in the world), and why northwestern Ontario, not a hugely populated area but home to vulnerable First Nations communities, bore the brunt of it. Then he digs into why this...
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100 Years of Data Reveals Why Sharks Keep Stealing Your Catch
How To Protect The Ocean
If you've ever felt a hard strike, fought a fish, and reeled up nothing but a head, you already know what shark depredation feels like. In this episode, Andrew breaks down a new study that tracked shark depredation across the entire Atlantic coast, from Maine to Texas and the US Caribbean, going back a full century to figure out why it's happening more now than ever before. The study found at least 51 targeted fish stocks affected and 22 shark species involved, with bull sharks and sandbar sharks showing up most often. But the real story isn't that sharks are out of control. It's that...
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What Lives in the Middle of the Ocean?
How To Protect The Ocean
A thousand meters down off the coast of Brazil, a deep-sea robot caught something almost no one has ever filmed alive: a giant open ocean octopus calmly eating a jellyfish. That moment, captured by the Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian aboard the research vessel Falkor (too), was part of a wider expedition that turned up more than two dozen species new to science, from glowing worms to glass squid to strange colonial siphonophores. The discovery points to something bigger than one expedition. The ocean's midwater, the vast zone between the sunlit surface and the seafloor, is by volume...
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Oil Companies Knew Coral Reefs Would Dissolve. In 1978.
How To Protect The Ocean
In 1978, an Exxon scientist asked a question in capital letters: were the oceans dissolving coral reefs? By 1982, Exxon's own scientists had the answer, in writing. So did Shell by 1986. This episode traces a newly published Oxford University study that dug through more than fourteen thousand pages of fossil fuel industry documents and found that the world's biggest oil and gas companies understood, decades before the public did, exactly how their product would wreck coral reefs. We walk through what the industry knew and when, how a funded think tank report in 2012 was built to look like an...
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Nearly 2,000 Volunteers Just Answered the Ocean's Biggest Question
How To Protect The Ocean
For more than a decade, almost 2,000 volunteers have walked California's beaches with clipboards, counting every swimmer, surfer, angler, and boat they see. It sounds simple, maybe even a little strange. But that pile of data, more than a million tally marks collected between 2012 and 2020, just answered a question marine scientists have debated for years: do marine protected areas actually work in the real world, not just on paper? In this episode, we walk through what researchers found when they finally pulled that decade of volunteer data together. We look at how the MPA Watch program...
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The Silent Damage Behind Your Canned Tuna
How To Protect The Ocean
Right now, somewhere in the open ocean, a raft the size of a small table is drifting with no one steering it. It's called a fish aggregating device, or FAD, and the tuna industry drops thousands of them into the water every year to lure fish to the surface. A new study published in Science Advances tracked where these rafts actually end up, and the answer is unsettling: they've likely drifted through more than half of the world's marine protected areas by total area, with over 6,300 strandings recorded across 174 protected areas in 53 countries and territories. When a drifting FAD washes onto...
info_outlineOn this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, Dr. David Ebert discusses the importance of his book, "The Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, and Chimeras of the East Coast of North America," which describes over 1,200 species. He has authored over 30 books on marine life and is joined by shark illustrator Mark Dando. Listeners will learn about the growth in knowledge of shark species and the significance of field guides for shark conservationists and enthusiasts.
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Dr. David Ebert is a renowned expert in the field of elasmobranchs, having described 50 shark species and authored an impressive 36 books on sharks, rays, and chimeras. His extensive knowledge and dedication to studying these marine creatures have significantly contributed to our understanding of their diversity and biology. Through his research and publications, Dr. Ebert has expanded the scientific community's knowledge and provided valuable resources for shark enthusiasts, conservationists, and researchers.
Beyond identifying and describing new species, Dr. Ebert has delved into various aspects of shark biology, including trophic ecology, diet studies, reproduction, and distribution. His expertise in these areas has allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the ecological roles and conservation needs of different shark species. Additionally, his focus on lesser-known species, such as skates and ghost sharks, highlights the importance of studying and conserving these often-overlooked elasmobranchs.
Dr. Ebert's impact extends beyond the scientific community. His field guides and books serve as valuable resources for fishermen, beachgoers, and conservation organizations, enabling them to identify and learn more about the sharks, rays, and chimeras found in the East Coast of North America and beyond. By inspiring others to explore and study these fascinating marine creatures, Dr. Ebert's work continues to shape the future of shark research and conservation efforts.
The Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, and Chimeras of the East Coast of North America, authored by Dr. David Ebert, is a crucial resource for identifying and understanding the diverse species of elasmobranchs found along the East Coast. This comprehensive guide, featuring detailed illustrations by Mark Dando, provides valuable information on 173 species, including 92 sharks, 72 rays and skates, and nine chimeras. The book aims to assist scientists, conservationists, and the general public in recognizing and appreciating the marine life in this region.
Dr. Ebert's extensive experience in describing and studying sharks has led to the creation of this field guide, essential for promoting conservation efforts. By accurately identifying species and understanding their distributions, researchers, government agencies, and NGOs can develop effective conservation and management strategies. The book not only highlights common species but also sheds light on lesser-known and endangered species, such as sawfish and ghost sharks, emphasizing the importance of protecting these vulnerable populations.
Moreover, the field guide serves as a tool for inspiring future research and conservation initiatives. Dr. Ebert's work has motivated students and enthusiasts to delve deeper into the world of elasmobranchs, leading to potential graduate studies and conservation projects. By providing accessible and informative content, the book encourages individuals to explore and appreciate the diversity of sharks, rays, and chimeras along the East Coast.
Overall, The Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, and Chimeras of the East Coast of North America plays a vital role in species identification, conservation awareness, and scientific exploration. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in marine biodiversity and underscores the importance of protecting these fascinating creatures for future generations.
Dr. David Ebert's extensive collection of books, particularly his field guides on sharks, rays, and chimeras, have not only served as valuable resources for the scientific community but have also inspired young scientists to delve into the world of lesser-known species. Through his books, Dr. Ebert has highlighted the importance of studying and understanding species like rays and ghost sharks, which are often overlooked in favor of more charismatic species like white sharks.
His dedication to documenting and describing these lesser-known species has sparked curiosity and interest among aspiring scientists. By providing detailed information and illustrations in his books, Dr. Ebert has made these enigmatic creatures more accessible and intriguing to a wider audience. This accessibility has encouraged young researchers to explore these lesser-known species further, leading to potential research opportunities and discoveries in the field of elasmobranch biology.
Dr. Ebert's work not only serves as a guide for identification and conservation but also as a catalyst for future research and exploration. His passion for uncovering the mysteries of the ocean and shedding light on lost sharks has inspired a new generation of scientists to pursue studies on these often neglected species, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of marine ecosystems.