Beyond All the Sharks

With its major domestic and international fishing fleets and cultural emphasis on seafood, Japan's policies and practices ripple across every ocean. Understanding how sharks move through these, and neighboring, markets, kitchens, and even pet food is essential to addressing the global shark mortality crisis.In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shelley Clarke, an independent fisheries consultant with decades of experience working inside the systems that govern shark catch and trade worldwide. From her early career as a fisheries observer to her ongoing work with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) , Shelley offers a rare insider perspective on how shark policy succeeds and where it falls short.Join us for a nuanced, honest look at one of the most complex fronts in global shark conservation and what everyday people can do to push things forward.Thanks to:📸 Andy Murch – www.sharksandrays.org | YouTube: @bigfishexpeditions8233 | IG: @bigfishexpeditions📸 Shelley Clarke🔗 Follow us for more shark science and ocean stories:📸 Instagram: @shark_docs🎯 www.sharkdocs.orgOUTLINE0:00 – Intro to Japan, Global Shark Conservation, & Dr. Shelley Clarke02:45 – Fisheries Observer Program & Career Path08:55 – Japanese Culture & Relationship to Seafood and Conservation22:19 – Japan's Diving Industry & Wildlife27:22 – Healthy Seafood: Mercury & Fukushima29:29 – Shark In Food for People & Pets32:30 – Cultural Values towards Seafood35:50 – Shark Finning, No-Retention Measures, Transshipment, & Mortality47:10 – Shark Meat, Landings Records & Reporting50:05 – Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU)53:30 – Shark Trade & CITES59:35 – Solving Excessive Shark Mortality1:05:49 – Making a Difference in Everyday Life1:08:30 – Inner Workings of RFMO Meetings1:16:20 – Small Steps Towards Conservation Success1:20:30 – Research Advice for Grad Students1:22:35 – OutroRelevant Literature & Resources🌐 GuestDr. Shelley Clarke – www.sasamaconsulting.com⚠️ Conservation StatusDulvy et al., 2024 – https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adn1477Dulvy et al., 2026 – https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00120-2🚫 Shark Fin Bans & No-RetentionFerretti et al., 2020 – https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12708Worm et al., 2024 – https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adf8984Feitosa et al., 2025 – https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12892Gilman et al., 2016 – https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2599Tolotti et al., 2015 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2015.05.003Clarke et al., 2012 – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01943.x🔍 Shark Fins, Trade, & CITESCardeñosa et al., 2018 – https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12457Cardeñosa et al., 2023 – https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12864Cardeñosa, 2019 – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01221-0Fields et al., 2025 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-025-01714-1Fowler et al., 2021 – https://bfn.bsz-bw.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/7/file/Skript607.pdfBond et al., 2025 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106733Clarke et al., 2006 – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00968.x🥩 Shark Meat TradeOspina-Álvarez et al., 2025 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106659MacNeil et al., 2025 – https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.24.650194v1.abstractOkes & Sant, 2019 – https://sharks.panda.org/images/downloads/327/TRAFFIC_Top_20_Shark_Catchers__Traders_2019_1.pdfRyburn et al., 2025 – https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1604454Dent and Clarke, 2015 – https://www.proquest.com/openview/3b5c990099f5140bc44e63e7e691e271/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=237320🎣 Bycatch & Fisheries ManagementCrespo et al., 2024 – https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14324Cronin et al., 2023 – https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12710Galland et al., 2018 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.10.029

The Galápagos is one of the world’s most iconic marine ecosystems, but the sharks and other megafauna that roam these waters don’t recognize borders. Many species move across thousands of kilometers, linking Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and beyond. Understanding those movements is vital for designing effective marine reserves while supporting sustainable fisheries.In this episode, MigraMar’s Dr. Alex Hearn and Dr. César Peñaherrera-Palma break down decades of tagging research, remote-video surveys, and long-term ecological work that reveal where sharks go, how they move, and how they use “swimways” through the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Their science helped drive the creation of the Hermandad Marine Reserve—an important milestone for migratory corridors—but the work is far from finished.Even with new protections, major threats remain. Join us to learn more!🔗 Follow for more shark science and ocean stories:📸 Instagram: @shark_docs🎯 www.sharkdocs.orgEpisode Guide00:00 Intro03:06 Darwin’s Arch to Darwin’s Pillars05:15 Tiger sharks, killer whales & currents29:58 Galápagos as a shark hotspot36:49 Shark Highway of the EPO41:02 Movement variability across species46:30 Protecting sharks from fishing52:14 Hermandad & Ecuador’s debt swap54:20 Sustainable fishing & longline ban01:01:00 Fisheries & management01:09:35 Supporting healthy oceans01:11:48 Shark Count Galapagos App01:14:19 Outro📄 Relevant Literature and PublicationsMigramar – https://migramar.org/Dr. Peñaherrera-Palma – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=A09SYrkAAAAJDr. Hearn – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=96n4YGQAAAAJ🐺 Sharks of Darwin & WolfSalinas-de-Leon 2016 – https://peerj.com/articles/1911/Acuna-Marrero 2014 – https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0115946&type=printableHearn 2016 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-016-2991-yHearn 2013 – https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-02769-2_2🐋 Orca–Shark InteractionsTerrapon 2024 – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/aje.13342Towner 2021 – https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2022.2066723Ford 2011 – https://www.int-res.com/articles/ab2010/11/b011p213.pdfPancaldi 2024 – https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1448254📚 Shark Movements & Connectivity (EPO)Hearn 2010 – https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1460-2Ketchum 2014 – https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-014-2393-yNalesso 2019 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213741Salinas-de-León 2025 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-025-01717-4Klimley 2022 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-021-01204-6Cambra 2021 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244343McKinley 2025 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0334164🛡️ Important Shark & Ray AreasPeñaherrera-Palma 2018 – https://seaturtles.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Justificacio%CC%81n-Biolo%CC%81gica-Migravi%CC%81a-C-G_web.pdfNursery Complex – https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/galapagos-nursery-complex-isra/Galapagos Platform – https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/galapagos-platform-isra/Darwin-Wolf – https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/darwin-wolf-isra/Paramount Seamount – https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/paramount-seamount-isra/Cocos–Galápagos Swimway – https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/cocos-galapagos-swimway-isra/⚠️ Current Threats & Fisheries PressurePeñaherrera-Palma 2025 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-025-01710-xChinacalle-Martínez 2024 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282374Peñaherrera-Palma 2018 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2018.07.004Hearn & Bucaram 2025 – https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1484989Worm 2024 – https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adf8984🧭 Regional Policy & Sustainable FisheriesHearn 2008 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2008.06.009Tanner 2021 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104665Galapagos Life Fund – https://galapagoslifefund.org.ec/

🌍 The Bahamas: A Shark Sanctuary Under ThreatChris and Brendan join their friend and colleague Dr. Matt Smukall, Director of the Bimini Biological Field Station @BiminiSharkLab to discuss all things shark and ray in The Bahamas, including the ongoing battle to save the mangrove forests of North Bimini from unsustainable, short-sighted development. These mangroves provide an outsized benefit to local wildlife, ecotourism, and fisheries in the western Bahamas, and trading them for a golf course or a few condos is a terrible mistake.Thanks to:📸 @Sharkman_Dan – Filming and Editing📸 Wyatt Albert @wadewithwyatt - Photo and Video Contributions🔗 Follow us for more shark science and ocean stories:📸 Instagram: @shark_docs🎯 Website: www.sharkdocs.orgRelevant Literature & Resources🏫 Bimini ResearchBimini Shark Lab – https://www.biminisharklab.com/🦈 Shark Management and Abundance in The BahamasKessel et al., 2016 – https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12987Hansell et al., 2018 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.09.016Talwar et al., 2020 – https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105683Smukall et al., 2022 – https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15067🔬 Species-Specific ResearchCaribbean reef shark IUCN Red List assessment: Carlson et al., 2019 – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/60217/3093780Caribbean Reef Shark life history: Talwar et al., 2022 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-022-04044-9🌊 Shark and Ray AbundanceMacNeil et al., 2020 – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2519-yClementi et al., 2021 – https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v661/p175-186/Simpfendorfer et al., 2023 – https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.ade4884Goetze et al., 2024 – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02386-9🌍 Population Declines and ManagementWard-Paige et al., 2010 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0011968Talwar et al., 2022 – https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12675Pacoureau et al., 2023 – https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2216891120🌴 North Bimini MangrovesJennings et al., 2008 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-008-9357-3DiBattista et al., 2011 – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2010.00125.xJennings et al., 2012 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11852-012-0211-6Arkema et al., 2017 – https://naturalcapitalproject.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj25256/files/media/file/natcap_economicvalueofmarineprotectedareas_0.pdfBeal et al., 2021 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21004581Kanno et al., 2023 – https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v724/p167-183/Kressler et al., 2024 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24006964🌐 Habitat Conservation ResourcesNorth Bimini Marine Reserve – https://www.biminisharklab.com/north-bimini-marine-reserve🌍 Global Habitat LossWaycott et al., 2009 – https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0905620106Polidoro et al., 2010 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010095Buelow et al., 2022 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.013💰 Shark EconomyHaas et al., 2017 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.01.007🌊 Ecosystem ValuesHarborne et al., 2006 – https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2881(05)50002-6🦈 Shark and Ray InteractionsMaljković & Coté, 2011 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.11.019Hammerschlag et al., 2012 – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.01973.xHeim et al., 2021 – https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.628469Heim et al., 2024 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.08.012🌐 Shark Diving ManagementGallagher et al., 2015 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.02.007Healy et al., 2020 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103964🐟 Shark Homing BehaviorEdrén & Gruber, 2005 – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-2583-4Feldheim et al., 2014 – https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.12583📚 Internshipshttps://www.biminisharklab.com/internships#AllTheSharks #netflix #wildlife #ocean #conservation #shark #ray

South Africa is a global hotspot for shark and ray biodiversity — home to over 200 species, including many found nowhere else on Earth. In this episode of Beyond All the Sharks, Chris & Brendan team up with their friend and fellow Shark Doc, Dr. Alison Kock of South African National Parks (SANParks), to dive into the science, conservation, and management of these incredible animals along South Africa’s ~3,000 km coastline.From white sharks in False Bay to endemic catsharks and shysharks, Dr. Kock has dedicated her career to protecting species that play a critical role in ocean ecosystems. Thanks to:📸 Andy Murch – www.sharksandrays.org | YouTube: @bigfishexpeditions8233 | IG: @bigfishexpeditions📸 Morne Hardenberg – @mornehardenberg📸 Mark Van Coller – @AtlanticEdgeFilms📸 Dr. Alison Kock – @alison_kockResources & References🌍 South Africa National ParksSANParks – https://www.sanparks.org/?home👩‍🔬 Dr. Kock's storySave Our Seas Foundation – https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/alison-kock/📊 IUCN Red List Assessment for White SharkRigby et al., 2022 – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3855/212629880📈 Preliminary recovery of White Shark in the NW AtlanticCurtis et al., 2014 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099240🌊 White Shark habitat shift towards Port Elizabeth, South AfricaBowlby et al., 2023 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23008622🌐 Biodiversity & conservation of sharks in South AfricaEbert & Van Hees, 2014 – https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1048730Pollom et al., 2024 – https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306813🐠 South African marine biodiversity & environmentGriffiths et al., 2010 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012008🐟 Catsharks / Shysharks of South Africa – Population statusNatal Shyshark – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/161667/124524866Brown Shyshark – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39346/124403821Puffadder Shyshark / Happy Eddie – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39345/124403633Dark Shyshark – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/161650/124521775Pyjama Shark – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39348/124404008Leopard Catshark – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/161515/124498131🦑 Endemic sharks of South AfricaCliff & Olbers, 2022 – https://sharksunderattackcampaign.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023_01_17_WILDOCEANS-endemic-and-threatened-sharks-species-reports.pdf🛡️ Marine protected areas & catsharks / shysharksAlbano et al., 2021 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109302Cortelezzi et al., 2022 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115691📖 Select work on White Sharks from Dr. Kock Klimley et al., 2024 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-024-01584-5Bowlby et al., 2023 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23008622Towner et al., 2022 – https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2022.2066723Towner et al., 2022 – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10078210/Kock et al., 2022 – https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.811985Kock et al., 2018 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40462-018-0125-5Hewitt et al., 2017 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-017-0679-x🔄 Effect of White Shark absence on other species / ecological roleDedman et al., 2024 – https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adl2362👀 Shark SpottersShark Spotters – https://sharkspotters.org.za/Engelbrecht et al., 2017 – https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185335⚖️ Human–shark conflict & conservationAtkins et al., 2023 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X23002956Sheridan et al., 2021 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104633Simpfendorfer et al., 2021 – https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.692767📝 South African shark conservation prioritiesIUCN, 2024 – Global Shark Status Report (South Africa) – https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2024-024-En_part_6.pdf

In this episode of Beyond All the Sharks, marine ecologists Dr. Chris Malinowski and Dr. Brendan Talwar join fellow Shark Doc Dr. Heather Middleton on Heron Island—a remote research station nestled into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.Together, they explore how this iconic island has evolved from a turtle cannery into a hotspot for shark and ray science and what it teaches us about biodiversity, adaptation, and the urgent need for conservation. From the shallow reef flats to the deep impacts of climate change, this is a deep dive into one of the most vibrant marine ecosystems on the planet.🦈 In this episode, we cover:– The transformation of Heron Island from turtle cannery to protected Green Zone– Ray and shark mating behavior, olfactory communication, and reproductive strategies– Epaulette sharks and their chemical cues: what pheromones can tell us about courtship– Research at the Heron Island Research Station and its role in global reef science– How climate change is affecting shark movement, mating, and survival– The importance of protected zones in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park🎧 Whether you're a marine biologist, conservationist, diver, or shark enthusiast, this episode offers fresh perspectives and emerging science from one of the world’s most studied reefs.🎙️ About our guest:Dr. Heather Middleton is a marine scientist and shark researcher based at the Heron Island Research Station. Her recent work focuses on the chemical ecology of elasmobranchs, including groundbreaking research on pheromones in epaulette sharks. She combines field ecology with behavioral studies to better understand how marine species interact, reproduce, and respond to environmental change.📸 Special thanks to: Andy Murch – www.sharksandrays.org | YouTube: @bigfishexpeditions8233 | Instagram: @bigfishexpeditions; Dr. Heather Middleton, Dr. Lawson (@_alinya), and Dr. Wheeler for their photos and videos; and Dive Spear and Sport – for supporting our dive team at Heron Reef📚 Further Reading & ResourcesFor full references and links to the scientific literature mentioned in this episode, visit our YouTube channel @SharkDocs🔗 Follow us for more shark science and conservation:📸 Instagram: @shark_docs▶️ YouTube: @SharkDocs🎯 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shark_docs🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.#AllTheSharks #SharkPodcast #SharkScience #Elasmobranchs #MarineBiology #OceanConservation #GreatBarrierReef #SharkWeek #ClimateChange #HeronIsland #BeyondAllTheSharks

Beyond All the Sharks is the official companion podcast to the Netflix series All the Sharks. Want to learn more after watching the show? Join hosts Dr. Chris Malinowski and Dr. Brendan Talwar as they connect with their new friends and fellow Shark Docs, Arzucan Zuzu Askin and Ahmed Ricky Mohamed from the Miyaru Programme in Fuvamulah, Maldives. Together, they explore shark and ray conservation, dive ecotourism, sustainable fisheries, and the evolving perceptions and uses of sharks in this vibrant region of the Indian Ocean.🌊 In this episode, we cover:– Shark and ray research and conservation in the Maldives– The role of dive ecotourism and sustainable practices– Deep-sea biology and shark ecology– Fisheries impacts and community engagement– Changing local and global attitudes toward sharks🎧 Whether you're a scientist, conservationist, diver, or curious explorer, this episode dives into the connections between culture, conservation, and research in the Maldives—one of the most important and rapidly changing shark hotspots in the world.🎙️ About our guests:Arzucan “Zuzu” Askin is a National Geographic Explorer, conservation scientist, and co-founder of the Miyaru Programme. Trained at Oxford’s Seascape Ecology Lab, she specializes in shark-human interactions and the social dimensions of shark conservation. Ahmed “Ricky” Mohamed is an underwater photographer, videographer, and dive shop owner based in Fuvahmulah. As part of Miyaru’s media storytelling team, he documents local shark populations and helps share the island’s conservation efforts with global audiences through visual media.📸 Special thanks to:– Andy Murch (https://www.sharksandrays.org | YouTube: @bigfishexpeditions8233 | Instagram: @bigfishexpeditions)– Arzucan Zuzu Askin, Ahmed Ricky Mohamed, and Lorea Dandoy for their photos and videos– Pelagic Divers Fuvahmulah and owner Ahmed Inah (@inah_shark) for supporting our team both underwater and on land (https://www.pelagicdiversfuvahmulah.com/)📚 Further Reading & ResourcesFor full references, links, and more scientific resources mentioned in this episode, visit our YouTube channel @SharkDocs.🔗 Follow us for more shark science and ocean stories:📸 Instagram: @shark_docs▶️ YouTube: @SharkDocs🎯 Linktree: linktr.ee/shark_docs🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.#AllTheSharks #SharkPodcast #SharkScience #Elasmobranchs #MarineBiology #OceanConservation #Maldives #SharkWeek #ClimateChange #BeyondAllTheSharks #MarineConservation #SharkResearch #OceanScience #WildlifePodcast #CoralReefProtection