David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
I am a marine conservation biologist studying sharks and a science writer. Posts are about science and the environment, science communication, and more! He/him
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada
Populations of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), playful animals that resemble large dolphins, stretch across the Atlantic Ocean, with each group of whales living year-round in a…
news.mongabay.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada
Tourists face backlash after plucking baby shark from ocean for photo op: 'How about we don't touch' | I’m gonna need everyone to make better choices
Tourists face backlash after plucking baby shark from ocean for photo op: 'How about we don't touch'
Reactions to the post all point to the same truth: Curiosity doesn't mean care.
www.yahoo.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Tourists face backlash after plucking baby shark from ocean for photo op: 'How about we don't touch' | I’m gonna need everyone to make better choices
Risk of overfishing rises as climate change gives silky sharks the squeeze
Risk of overfishing rises as climate change gives silky sharks the squeeze
As our climate warms, silky sharks are avoiding higher summer temperatures in the Red Sea by keeping to a narrow band of cooler water and aggregating at a depth of 70–100 metres (230–328 feet). It is…
saveourseas.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Risk of overfishing rises as climate change gives silky sharks the squeeze
Endangered whale's 3,000-mile journey from Ireland to Boston shocks scientists - CBS Boston 🧪🌎🦑
Endangered whale's 3,000-mile journey from Ireland to Boston shocks scientists
A North Atlantic right whale spotted off Ireland last year has made an "extraordinary" 3,000-mile journey to Boston, scientists say.
www.cbsnews.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Endangered whale's 3,000-mile journey from Ireland to Boston shocks scientists - CBS Boston 🧪🌎🦑
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
Thank you to @whysharksmatter.bsky.social for bringing me along for the ride on this incredible trip tagging a bull shark and a nurse shark! Still over the moon about seeing these beauties 🦑🌿🧪
December 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Thank you to @whysharksmatter.bsky.social for bringing me along for the ride on this incredible trip tagging a bull shark and a nurse shark! Still over the moon about seeing these beauties 🦑🌿🧪
Shark dies after stranding on Cape Cod; researchers tag great white in exciting milestone www.bostonherald.com/2025/12/04/s...
Shark dies after stranding on Cape Cod; researchers tag great white in ‘exciting milestone’
Shark dies after stranding on Cape Cod; researchers tag great white shark in ‘exciting milestone’
www.bostonherald.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Shark dies after stranding on Cape Cod; researchers tag great white in exciting milestone www.bostonherald.com/2025/12/04/s...
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
This was the same justification used to authorize the Juvenile Goliath Grouper harvest, too. That one just never made it to court where they had to admit it publicly.
My column this week points out that this #Florida bear hunt flies in the face of science, but the FWC says it doesn't have to follow science. floridaphoenix.com/2025/12/04/f...
#Florida's first bear hunt in 10 years starts today (despite science saying no hunt should take place). These people won permits to hunt -- but say they won't use them. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
December 6, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This was the same justification used to authorize the Juvenile Goliath Grouper harvest, too. That one just never made it to court where they had to admit it publicly.
New Book for Young Readers Brings the Stories of 10 Remarkable Women to Life
New Book for Young Readers Brings the Stories of 10 Remarkable Women to Life
Ten great stories about 10 forgotten female scientists that we hope will inspire middle school readers to pursue their own curiosity and get involved in STEM fields
www.scientificamerican.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:13 PM
New Book for Young Readers Brings the Stories of 10 Remarkable Women to Life
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
So well deserved
December 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
So well deserved
My Spotify cannot be wrapped in any way that matters
December 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
My Spotify cannot be wrapped in any way that matters
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada news.mongabay.com/2025/12/a-ra... 🧪🦑🌎
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada
Populations of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), playful animals that resemble large dolphins, stretch across the Atlantic Ocean, with each group of whales living year-round in a…
news.mongabay.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada news.mongabay.com/2025/12/a-ra... 🧪🦑🌎
60,000 African penguins starved to death after sardine numbers collapsed – study
60,000 African penguins starved to death after sardine numbers collapsed – study
Climate crisis and overfishing contributed to loss of 95% of penguins in two breeding colonies in South Africa, research finds
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
60,000 African penguins starved to death after sardine numbers collapsed – study
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
When everybody was saying there was no way you could end the war between the sharks and the bony fishes, I knew they were wrong.
December 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
When everybody was saying there was no way you could end the war between the sharks and the bony fishes, I knew they were wrong.
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
In this episode of WaveCast, host Andi dives into MI's Master of Applied Ocean Technology (Ocean Mapping) program with alumni Kelsey Forrest. They discuss the tech of ocean mapping, opportunities in the ocean economy, and her experiences as a commercial diver🌊
🔗 miwavecast.alitu.com/episode/54b3...
🔗 miwavecast.alitu.com/episode/54b3...
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
In this episode of WaveCast, host Andi dives into MI's Master of Applied Ocean Technology (Ocean Mapping) program with alumni Kelsey Forrest. They discuss the tech of ocean mapping, opportunities in the ocean economy, and her experiences as a commercial diver🌊
🔗 miwavecast.alitu.com/episode/54b3...
🔗 miwavecast.alitu.com/episode/54b3...
Pleased to announce that I’ve won the inaugural Shark Week peace prize, which is a real thing and not something I just made up
December 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Pleased to announce that I’ve won the inaugural Shark Week peace prize, which is a real thing and not something I just made up
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
🤿 Azores Devil Ray Research Expedition Episode 4: How We Study Devil Rays
🔬 There are various ways to study the sicklefin devil ray. Here, we explore non-invasive techniques such as photo-ID, stereo-video photogrammetry, and underwater contactless ultrasonography.
🔬 There are various ways to study the sicklefin devil ray. Here, we explore non-invasive techniques such as photo-ID, stereo-video photogrammetry, and underwater contactless ultrasonography.
December 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
🤿 Azores Devil Ray Research Expedition Episode 4: How We Study Devil Rays
🔬 There are various ways to study the sicklefin devil ray. Here, we explore non-invasive techniques such as photo-ID, stereo-video photogrammetry, and underwater contactless ultrasonography.
🔬 There are various ways to study the sicklefin devil ray. Here, we explore non-invasive techniques such as photo-ID, stereo-video photogrammetry, and underwater contactless ultrasonography.
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
"Mr. President this is your prize, this one, please do not try to steal the World Cup Trophy too."
December 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
"Mr. President this is your prize, this one, please do not try to steal the World Cup Trophy too."
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
Boomers: It just sucks so much that everyone gets participation trophies now, you used to have to show real merit to get an award
Also Boomers:
Also Boomers:
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Boomers: It just sucks so much that everyone gets participation trophies now, you used to have to show real merit to get an award
Also Boomers:
Also Boomers:
Frontiers | The application of unmanned vehicle systems during the course of maritime law enforcement
Frontiers | The application of unmanned vehicle systems during the course of maritime law enforcement
The evolving maritime security landscape and rapid advancements in intelligent technologies have increased the importance of unmanned vehicle systems (UVSs) ...
www.frontiersin.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Frontiers | The application of unmanned vehicle systems during the course of maritime law enforcement
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
Disabled students belong in biological sciences spaces! Here is a thread of some tips and suggestions to make your spaces more inclusive.
December 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Disabled students belong in biological sciences spaces! Here is a thread of some tips and suggestions to make your spaces more inclusive.
*Slams laptop shut until January*
(Not counting my smaller travel laptop which I"ll be using a little bit while on vacation the next few weeks)
(Not counting my smaller travel laptop which I"ll be using a little bit while on vacation the next few weeks)
December 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
*Slams laptop shut until January*
(Not counting my smaller travel laptop which I"ll be using a little bit while on vacation the next few weeks)
(Not counting my smaller travel laptop which I"ll be using a little bit while on vacation the next few weeks)
Vaccines are the greatest public health success story in history.
So much death and suffering can be stopped entirely, or dramatically reduced.
And people are just throwing it away.
So much death and suffering can be stopped entirely, or dramatically reduced.
And people are just throwing it away.
December 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Vaccines are the greatest public health success story in history.
So much death and suffering can be stopped entirely, or dramatically reduced.
And people are just throwing it away.
So much death and suffering can be stopped entirely, or dramatically reduced.
And people are just throwing it away.
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
Reasonably well-behaved critters of Bridlington Bay No Take Zone, including velvet swimming crabs 🦀, dabs and plaice 🐟, and a lesser spotted dogfish 🦈 all making appearances for day 5 of #Crustmas and #25DaysOfFishmas. 🎄🎉🦑
December 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reasonably well-behaved critters of Bridlington Bay No Take Zone, including velvet swimming crabs 🦀, dabs and plaice 🐟, and a lesser spotted dogfish 🦈 all making appearances for day 5 of #Crustmas and #25DaysOfFishmas. 🎄🎉🦑
Week in wildlife: a studious deer and a partying raccoon
Week in wildlife: a studious deer and a partying raccoon
This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Week in wildlife: a studious deer and a partying raccoon