It was a kick to watch the "Shark Doc," Samuel Gruber, on the Mythbusters program that opened this year's Shark Week while being with him at the annual meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society (AES) (www.elasmo.org). Founded by Dr. Gruber in 1983, the AES is the world's largest association of shark and ray scientists. The show featured Dr. Gruber's work on shark deterrents from the Bimini Biological Field Station. Doc established this now world-famous "Shark Lab" (http://www6.miami.edu/sharklab/) in 1990, after successfully battling malignant lymphoma. The next year he helped found and served as the first chair of the IUCN (http://cms.iucn.org) Shark Specialist Group.
When I heard he had recently retired from his professorship at the University of Miami, I had the idea to use this blog to commemorate the end of his illustrious career. Then, in talking to him about it, I learned that he was re-hired in another capacity the very next day! He will also continue to serve as director of the Bimini Shark Lab. Countless sharks and shark scientists have benefited from this boundless energy, as well as Doc's unique teaching style and overall passion for sharks.
Dr. Gruber is a recognized authority on shark science, having completed 49 Atlantic research cruises and 170 scientific publications. He has specialized in shark behavior, anatomy, sensory systems and tracking. Doc is perhaps best known for his studies on habitat selection and homing behavior of lemon sharks and eagle rays around the Bimini Shark Lab. At the AES meeting, he told me about a young lemon shark they tagged there in 1996 that was recaptured as a pregnant adult this year and gave birth to 14 young while under their watch. Lemon sharks tagged at Dr. Gruber's Shark Lab have been recaptured as far away as Panama City, Fla., offering insight into this species' conservation needs.
In recent years, much of Dr. Gruber's energy has been spent fighting plans to develop key shark habitat in Bimini. You can join the cause by visiting www.savebimini.org/ . I was pleased to hear that this campaign is gaining momentum and that Doc is far from ending his inspiring work in shark research and conservation.
Photo: DCL
Q&A With Sonja
Q: Regarding recent legislation passed here in the U.S. as well as legislative efforts abroad -- what measures are in place to ensure protection laws are enforced? Getting new laws passed to protect sharks and everything else in the oceans is a huge victory, but enforcing legislation is obviously key, particularly when one looks at commercial fishing operations in other parts of the world.
On a separate note, I think everyone working for the variety of shark and ocean conservation organizations is doing an outstanding job and I wish you all continued success in creating greater public awareness of the issues.
Posted by Kyuzo, July 25, 2008
A: You touch on a very serious issue in the fight to safeguard sharks. Enforcement of existing regulations is indeed key to ensuring that hard-fought measures are effective in conserving sharks. In the U.S., enforcement agents have taken shark species protection and the finning ban quite seriously, resulting in numerous busts and fines. It was actually a seizure of a large load of fresh shark fins without bodies in the Pacific that led to measures in a recent House of Representatives bill aimed at tightening finning regulations. A court ruled against the government in the case, because the law applies only to fins on fishing vessels and the boat in question was not geared for fishing. As a result, the "Shark Conservation Act of 2008" (see earlier blog entry on finning regulations) aims to broaden the application of the finning rules beyond just fishing vessels in order to improve enforcement of the ban. Action in the Senate is still needed.
In other parts of the world, enforcement of all types of fishing regulations is lacking. There are many conservation organizations, from the global World Wildlife Fund (www.wwf.org) and Conservation International (www.conservation.org) to countless regional, community groups around the world working for local solutions to this problem; they would welcome your support. U.S. residents can also help by letting the U.S. Department of State know that you think enforcement of fisheries regulations should be a priority issue for the U.S. at international fisheries meetings and as part of international aid programs.
Post your questions for Sonja in the Comments section below. She will be checking in to give you answers.
My two sons and I visited the sharklab ( in Bimini)in April of this year. There is such a dedication of his entire staff. They were very accomodating and let us touch the juvenile sharks ( my 7yr old did a report and told everyone in his class- with pictures to prove it- that he touched a shark.) My 7 year old wanted to stay and help the crew..who knows maybe we have a budding shark scientist!
I had heard that Doc Gruber was retiring while we were down there and am glad to hear that isnt the case. They are doing such important work!
More needs to be done to preserve stunning Bimini and all of the habitats there!!
Posted by: Kimmy | July 31, 2008 at 08:32 PM
I am writing about sharks. When I was about 12 years old (I am now 58) Marineland of the Pacific, which was owned at the time by 20th Century Fox, had in its main tank a sawtooth shark. It looked like it was about 15 to 18 feet long. I have watched shark week last year and this year but no sawtooth. Are they now extinct or just not popular?
It was an awsome looking fish and I would like to know more about them.
Posted by: Mike Hallisey | July 31, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Thank you for informing me about this heroic leader in shark research.
Email- Fred_Smilek@yahoo.com
Webpage- http://sites.google.com/site/fredjsmilek/
Fred Smilek is the acting president of the Society to Save Endangered Species. It was founded two years ago by Fred Smilek along with his two best friends Charles and Jonathan.
Posted by: Fred Smilek | January 21, 2009 at 02:27 PM
I like you
Posted by: o be one | February 09, 2009 at 08:23 PM
I love the Great white shark. I have study it since i was in 3th grade. I'm only 13 and was wondering how i can help to save this shark and more sharks that are going endangered. I have donated to a lot of different shark foundations and i still want to do more. So what else i could be able to do to help.
Posted by: sarah | April 06, 2009 at 09:56 PM