David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
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whysharksmatter.bsky.social
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
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
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
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
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
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
So well deserved
December 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
My Spotify cannot be wrapped in any way that matters
December 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
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
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
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
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...
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 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
December 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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.
December 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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."
this shit is just beyond parody, man
December 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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:
this shit is just beyond parody, man
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
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
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
*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)
December 5, 2025 at 5:34 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.
December 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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
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
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
Job alert: At @ucs.org, we're hiring a science policy director. This could be your dream job! Join us. apply.workable.com/union-of-con...
Director, Science Policy - Union of Concerned Scientists
Director, Science Policy Permanent Executive Union of Concerned Scientists Remote  Bargaining Unit Position: No Our Organization  The Union of Concern...
apply.workable.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
Frequently asked question:

“Hey David, I’ve seen you arrange shark research field skills courses and one-day expeditions for a variety of universities and organizations. Could you do that for my group?”

Absolutely yes! Let’s chat.
November 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈
I am excited to share with you a new paper, probably my last of 2025. @drcatmac.bsky.social is a coauthor.

Our paper presents advice for early career shark scientists who want their work to be useful for conservation and management policy.

conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🧪🦑🌍🦈
“This research is important for the conservation and Management of Sharks”: A proposed framework for ensuring that this is actually true
Many scientists want their research to inform policy and help manage endangered species, but many common research practices hinder potential policy relevance. The results of our survey provide advice...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM