The Shark Trust Podcast | Shark Science and Conservation

What can The Bahamas teach us about living alongside sharks?In this episode of Series 2, host Mark Stokes-Packer speaks with Shark Trust CEO Paul Cox and Marketing Manager and underwater photographer Caroline Robertson-Brown. Together, they revisit the making of the Shark Trust’s short documentary, “Living with Sharks in The Bahamas”, and explore what they learned from the people sharing their islands and waters with sharks.From Nassau and Bimini to Grand Bahama and Cat Island, Paul and Caroline discuss the importance of shark tourism to local businesses and communities. They reflect on encounters with Great Hammerheads, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Bull Sharks, Oceanic Whitetips and Southern Stingrays, as well as the habitats that support them.But coexistence is not without challenges. Caroline shares what she heard from sport fishers experiencing high levels of shark depredation on Cat Island and why some are beginning to question the country’s shark protections. The conversation explores why community engagement, positive communication and practical solutions must continue long after a shark sanctuary has been established.Paul and Caroline also share lessons from South Africa, where different coastlines, communities and shark species require very different approaches to beach safety.From responsible shark diving and habitat conservation to tourism, fisheries and community engagement, this episode asks what meaningful coexistence really looks like and what other countries can learn from The Bahamas.Please like, share, subscribe and leave a comment. If you have a question about Living with Sharks, leave it below or email [email protected] “Living with Sharks in The Bahamas”:https://youtu.be/vJ8g8Fjv9GIExplore the Speaking Up for the Ocean Toolkit:https://www.sharktrust.org/toolkitSupport our work by becoming a member, adopting a shark, donating or taking part in our citizen science projects. Visit https://www.sharktrust.org.Series 2 sponsored by SurfEars.Artwork by rev.01 Studio.Recording by Louis Hogan.Video and sound editing by Mark Stokes-Packer.Research and planning by Cat Gordon and Mark Stokes-Packer.Thank you for listening to the Shark Trust Podcast!Chapters00:13 What Can The Bahamas Teach Us About Coexistence?00:33 Meet Paul Cox and Caroline Robertson-Brown01:02 Making “Living with Sharks in The Bahamas”04:12 First Impressions of Bimini05:26 Shark Diving and Tourism07:47 The Economic and Cultural Value of Sharks09:50 How Attitudes Towards Sharks Have Changed11:42 Local Knowledge and Sharing the Water13:29 Stingrays, Fear and Education15:38 Mangroves and Shark Habitats17:48 Diving and Filming Across The Bahamas19:52 When Sharks Found the 360 Camera21:55 Diving with Great Hammerheads23:36 Why Bimini Stood Out25:15 Connecting Land, Sea and Shark Conservation28:23 Lessons for Responsible Shark Tourism30:32 Codes of Conduct and Diver Safety31:03 Bringing Communities Along34:07 Conflict on Cat Island35:50 Sport Fishing and Shark Depredation37:51 Speaking Up for the Ocean39:38 Beach Safety Lessons from South Africa43:29 Expedition Highlights45:43 Favourite Shark Encounters49:00 Where Does Living with Sharks Go Next?

In this episode of the Shark Trust Podcast, host Mark Stokes-Packer is joined by Tom Hird, but you might know him as The Blowfish or just "Fish". "Fish" is a marine biologist, wildlife presenter, science communicator, presenter of Netflix’s All the Sharks, and quite possibly the world’s only heavy metal marine biologist. Fish shares how a childhood fear of Great Whites sparked a lifelong fascination, how he found his way into science communication, and why he has made it his mission to tell shark stories in a way that reaches beyond traditional wildlife audiences. We talk about his journey from school talks and Shark Trust videos to Blue Peter, Shark Week, Netflix and beyond. We also dig into All the Sharks and how it helped showcase the huge diversity of sharks, rays and lesser-known species that rarely get time on screen. Along the way, we cover heavy metal experiments with sharks, the importance of making science accessible, unforgettable dives, the joy from seeing sharks, and why conservation needs more voices, more stories and more ways to connect people with the ocean. This episode is part of our Living with Sharks series, exploring coexistence and what it means to share the ocean with sharks now and in the future! Useful links:Find Tom 'The Blowfish' Hird online: theblowfish.co.ukFollow Tom on Instagram: @bigpoppablowfishWatch the series All the Sharks on Netflix Learn more about the Shark Trust: sharktrust.org and how you can support our conservation work! Thank you to SurfEars for supporting this series. If you surf, dive, swim or spend time in cold water, protect your ears. Thank you to Rev.01 Studio for the Shark Trust Podcast artwork. Recording by Louis Hogan.Editing by Mark Stokes-Packer.Research and planning for this series by Cat Gordon and Mark Stokes-Packer.Hosted by Mark Stokes-Packer. Thank you for listening to the Shark Trust Podcast!

How can fishers, scientists, and communities work together to reduce shark depredation?In Part 2 of this episode of the Shark Trust Podcast, host Mark Stokes-Packer continues his conversation with marine neurobiologist Dr Victoria Camilieri-Asch about shark depredation, fisher-shark interactions, shark sensory biology, and coexistence.The conversation explores how sharks use electroreception to detect tiny electrical signals in the water, why different species respond differently to deterrents, and why future technology must be developed with shark biology, fisheries needs, and real-world practicality in mind.Please like, share, subscribe, and leave a comment. If you have a question about Living with Sharks, drop it below or email [email protected] Victoria Camilieri-Asch:Email: [email protected] Howe Island Shark Research Program Facebook pageRelated research and links:Project Cucut paperLord Howe Island Shark Research Program paperDocumentaryFollow the Shark Trust:InstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTubeSupport our work by becoming a member, adopt a shark, donating, or taking part in our citizen science projects. You can do all of this by visiting sharktrust.org.Series 2 sponsored by SurfEars.Artwork by rev.01 Studio.Video and sound editing by Louis Hogan.Research and planning by Cat Gordon and Mark Stokes-Packer.Thank you for listening to the Shark Trust Podcast!Our short documentary "Living with Sharks: In the Bahamas" is available on YouTube.Chapters00:54 Shark Deterrent Videos and Field Trials01:34 Are Sharks Fussy Eaters?02:55 Shark Sensory Biology and Deterrent Technology05:29 Practical Ways Fishers Can Reduce Depredation08:00 Community Engagement at Lord Howe Island10:03 Changing Attitudes Towards Sharks13:16 What Does Successful Coexistence Look Like?16:44 Shark Depredation at Sharks International19:01 Future Research Priorities23:38 Vic’s Favourite Shark Species25:07 Chimaeras and Deep-Water Sharks

What happens when sharks and fisheries overlap?In this episode, Mark speaks with Marine Neurobiologist Dr Victoria Camilieri-Asch about shark depredation, shark behaviour, sensory ecology, and the complex relationship between sharks, fishers, and marine ecosystems.Together, Mark and Vic explore shark depredation, also known as bite-offs, where sharks remove fish from fishing gear before the catch can be retrieved. They discuss why this is becoming a growing issue for fishers, as well as the wider impacts on sharks, fisheries management, and marine ecosystems.Listen to Part 2 to continue the conversation!Please like, share, subscribe, and leave a comment. If you have a question about Living with Sharks, drop it below and we can answer it in a future episode. Or email [email protected] Victoria Camilieri-Asch:Email: [email protected] Howe Island Shark Research Program Facebook pageRelated research and links:Project Cucut paperLord Howe Island Shark Research Program paperDocumentaryFollow the Shark Trust:InstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTubeSupport our work by becoming a member, adopt a shark, donating, or taking part in our citizen science projects. You can do all of this by visiting sharktrust.org.Series 2 sponsored by SurfEars.Artwork by rev.01 Studio.Video and sound editing by Louis Hogan.Research and planning by Cat Gordon and Mark Stokes-Packer.Thank you for listening to the Shark Trust Podcast!Our short documentary "Living with Sharks: In the Bahamas" is available on YouTube.Chapters00:26 Meet Dr Victoria Camilieri-Asch03:18 Shark Behaviour, Brains and Sensory Biology06:06 What Is Shark Depredation?07:59 Why Depredation Is Becoming a Growing Issue13:18 Impacts on Fishers, Sharks and Ecosystems23:18 Key Drivers of Shark Depredation26:20 Project Cucut in the Cocos Keeling Islands29:06 Electrical Shark Deterrents and RPELX31:06 How Shark Deterrent Technology Works34:13 Reducing Depredation, Bycatch and Gear Loss38:23 What Comes Next for Shark Depredation Research

Can people and sharks safely share the same waters?In this episode of Series 2, host Mark Stokes-Packer speaks with Dr Adi Barash, marine biologist, shark researcher, and founder of Sharks in Israel. Together, they explore an unusual shark hotspot, where aggregations of Dusky and Sandbar Sharks gather near coastal power plants.Adi explains how these shark aggregations were first discovered, what attracts the sharks to the area, and how years of research have helped reveal their behaviour. As more people become aware of the phenomenon, the site has become increasingly popular with divers, swimmers, and wildlife enthusiasts, creating new challenges for both shark conservation and public safety.The conversation also explores a tragic shark bite incident that occurred in Israel in 2025. Adi shares the wider context surrounding the event, including environmental conditions, human behaviour, increasing visitor numbers, and the lessons that can help reduce risk in the future.From recovering shark populations and citizen science to wildlife management and responsible behaviour, this episode examines what true coexistence looks like when people and sharks share the same space.Please like, share, subscribe, and leave a comment. If you have a question about Living with Sharks, drop it below and we can answer it in a future episode. Or email [email protected] Dr Adi Barash:LinkedInSharks in Israel websiteSharks in Israel FacebookMECO ProjectFollow the Shark Trust:InstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTubeSupport our work by becoming a member, adopt a shark, donating, or taking part in our citizen science projects. You can do all of this by visiting sharktrust.org.Series 2 sponsored by SurfEars.Artwork by rev.01 Studio.Video and sound editing by Louis Hogan.Research and planning by Cat Gordon and Mark Stokes-Packer.Thank you for listening to the Shark Trust Podcast!Our short documentary "Living with Sharks: In the Bahamas" is available on YouTube.Chapters00:26 Meet Dr Adi Barash02:33 From Sea Turtles to Shark Research06:06 The Sharks and Rays of Israel10:01 Living with Sharks in Israel15:22 What Attracts Sharks to the Area?16:48 People, Sharks and Shared Waters19:34 Growing Tourism and Public Interest23:34 The 2025 Shark Bite Incident27:37 Understanding Risk and Coexistence31:25 Public Perception After a Shark Bite33:21 Conservation Success and Recovering Shark Populations38:52 Managing Shark Hotspots44:13 Sharks in Israel and Citizen Science