[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.61,0:00:13.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much for inviting me here,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.89,0:00:15.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and thank you to Carlin, wherever she is,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.92,0:00:19.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for tracking my progress and deciding\Nthis was a story worthy of TED.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.49,0:00:21.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think you've seen basking sharks,\Nhands up.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.35,0:00:23.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A few of you. Okay.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.65,0:00:25.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basking sharks are awesome creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.85,0:00:27.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are just magnificent.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.20,0:00:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They grow 10 meters long; some say bigger.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.77,0:00:32.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They might weigh up to two tons.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.81,0:00:34.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some say up to five tons.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.40,0:00:36.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're the second-largest\Nfish in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.08,0:00:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're also harmless\Nplankton-feeding animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.21,0:00:45.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they are thought to be able to filter\Na cubic kilometer of water every hour
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.67,0:00:50.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and can feed on 30 kilos\Nof zoo plankton a day to survive.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.93,0:00:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're fantastic creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.32,0:00:53.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're very lucky in Ireland,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.70,0:00:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have plenty of basking sharks\Nand plenty of opportunities to study them.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.31,0:00:59.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were very important\Nto coastal communities,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.63,0:01:01.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going back hundreds of years,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.09,0:01:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially around\Nthe Claddaghduff, Connemara region
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.37,0:01:09.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where subsistence farmers used to sail\Nout on their hookers and open boats,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.99,0:01:12.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes way offshore\Nto a place called the Sunfish Bank,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.74,0:01:14.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about 30 miles west of Achill Island,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.54,0:01:16.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to kill the basking sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.26,0:01:18.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a woodcut from about the 1800s.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.15,0:01:21.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were very important,\Nfor the oil out of their liver.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.93,0:01:24.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A third of the basking\Nshark's size is their liver,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.41,0:01:26.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's full of oil, gallons of oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.22,0:01:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That oil was used especially for lighting,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.33,0:01:30.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also for dressing wounds\Nand other things.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.53,0:01:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the streetlights in 1742,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.44,0:01:33.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Galway, Dublin and Waterford,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.99,0:01:35.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were lit with sunfish oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.40,0:01:38.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Sunfish" is one of the words\Nfor basking sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.33,0:01:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They've been around a long time,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.92,0:01:42.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're very important\Nto coastal communities.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.65,0:01:45.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably the best-documented\Nbasking shark fishery in the world
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.96,0:01:47.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that from Achill Island.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.50,0:01:49.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is Keem Bay up in Achill Island.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.20,0:01:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sharks used to come into the bay,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.38,0:01:55.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the fishermen\Nwould tie a net off the headland,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.40,0:01:57.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,string it out, an old Manila net,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.46,0:02:00.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as the shark came round,\Nit would hit the net,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.33,0:02:01.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the net would collapse on it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.12,0:02:06.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would often drown and suffocate.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.27,0:02:09.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or at times, they would row out\Nin their small curraghs
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.15,0:02:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and kill it with a lance\Nthrough the back of the neck.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.01,0:02:15.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they'd tow the sharks\Nback to Purteen Harbour,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.78,0:02:17.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,boil them up, use the oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.52,0:02:21.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They also used the flesh\Nas well, for fertilizer
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.47,0:02:24.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also would fin the sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.39,0:02:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is probably the biggest threat\Nto sharks worldwide --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.26,0:02:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the finning of sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.92,0:02:32.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're often frightened\Nof sharks, thanks to "Jaws."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.43,0:02:35.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe five or six people\Nget killed by sharks every year.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.51,0:02:38.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was someone recently, wasn't there?\NJust a couple weeks ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.71,0:02:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We kill about 100 million sharks a year.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.70,0:02:42.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I don't know what the balance is,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.70,0:02:46.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I think sharks have more right\Nto be fearful of us than we have of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.62,0:02:50.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a well-documented fishery.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.27,0:02:52.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you can see here,\Nit peaked in the '50s,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.10,0:02:55.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they were killing\N1,500 sharks a year.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.82,0:02:58.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it declined very fast --\Na classic boom-and-bust fishery,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.28,0:03:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which suggests that a stock\Nhas been depleted
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.97,0:03:04.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or there's low reproductive rates.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.74,0:03:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They killed about 12,000 sharks\Nwithin this period,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.23,0:03:11.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,literally just by stringing a Manila rope
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.18,0:03:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,off the tip of Keem Bay\Nup in Achill Island.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.28,0:03:16.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sharks were still killed\Nup into the mid-80s,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.71,0:03:19.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially out of places\Nlike Dunmore East in County Waterford.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.75,0:03:22.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About two and a half, 3,000\Nsharks were killed up till '85,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.60,0:03:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mainly by Norwegian vessels.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.22,0:03:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't really see,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.40,0:03:28.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but these are Norwegian\Nbasking shark hunting vessels.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.96,0:03:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The black line in the crow's nest\Nsignifies this is a shark vessel,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.54,0:03:34.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather than a whaling vessel.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.64,0:03:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The importance of basking sharks\Nto the coast communities
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.51,0:03:39.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is recognized through the language.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.21,0:03:41.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't pretend\Nto [know many Irish words],
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.52,0:03:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in Kerry they were often\Nknown as "ainmhide Na seolta,"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.10,0:03:46.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"the monster with the sails."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.10,0:03:50.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another title would be "liop an dá lapa,"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.63,0:03:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"the unwieldy beast with two fins."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.32,0:03:56.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Liabhán mór," suggesting a big animal.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.86,0:04:00.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or my favorite, "liabhán chor gréine,"\N"the great fish of the sun."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.39,0:04:01.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a lovely, evocative name.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.25,0:04:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On Tory Island -- a strange place\Nanyway -- they were known as "muldoons."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.10,0:04:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.14,0:04:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No one seems to know why.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.36,0:04:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hope there's no one\Nfrom Tory here. Lovely place.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.72,0:04:14.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But more commonly all around the island,\Nthey were known as the sunfish.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.77,0:04:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this represents their habit\Nof basking on the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.50,0:04:18.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the sun is out.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.68,0:04:21.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's great concern\Nthat basking sharks are depleted
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.27,0:04:22.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all throughout the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.01,0:04:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some say it's not population decline,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.03,0:04:27.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it might be a change\Nin the distribution of plankton.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.54,0:04:28.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's been suggested
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.72,0:04:31.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that these sharks would make\Nfantastic indicators of climate change,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.97,0:04:34.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they're basically\Ncontinuous plankton recorders,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.40,0:04:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,swimming around with their mouth open.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.25,0:04:39.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're now listed\Nas vulnerable under the IUCN.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.96,0:04:43.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's movements in Europe\Nto try and stop catching them.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.84,0:04:46.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's now a ban on catching\Nand even landing them,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.32,0:04:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even landing ones caught accidentally.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.81,0:04:50.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're not protected in Ireland;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.42,0:04:53.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in fact, they have no legislative\Nstatus in Ireland whatsoever,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.43,0:04:55.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,despite our importance for the species
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.38,0:04:58.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also the historical context\Nwithin which basking sharks reside.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.46,0:05:01.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know very little about them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.70,0:05:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And most of what we do know
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.42,0:05:07.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is based on their habit\Nof coming to the surface --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.24,0:05:10.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we try and guess what they're doing\Nfrom their behavior on the surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.66,0:05:13.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I only found out last year,\Nat a conference on the Isle of Man,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.75,0:05:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just how unusual it is to live somewhere
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.49,0:05:20.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where basking sharks regularly,\Nfrequently and predictably
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.06,0:05:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,come to the surface to "bask."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.03,0:05:25.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a fantastic opportunity\Nfor a scientist
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.14,0:05:26.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see and experience basking sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.97,0:05:28.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are awesome creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.34,0:05:31.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It gives us a fantastic opportunity\Nto study them, to get access to them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.82,0:05:35.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we've been doing for a couple\Nyears -- last year was a big year --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.24,0:05:37.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is we started tagging sharks,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.82,0:05:40.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we could try to get some idea\Nof sight fidelity and movement
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.89,0:05:42.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and things like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.08,0:05:47.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we concentrated mainly\Nin North Donegal and West Kerry
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.20,0:05:49.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the two areas\Nwhere I was mainly active.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.94,0:05:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we tagged them
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.52,0:05:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a big, long pole.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.72,0:05:55.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a beachcaster rod\Nwith a tag on the end.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.37,0:05:58.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You go up in your boat and tag the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.80,0:06:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we were very effective.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.37,0:06:03.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We tagged 105 sharks last summer.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.23,0:06:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We got 50 in three days\Noff Inishowen Peninsula.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.91,0:06:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Half the challenge to get access
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.49,0:06:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to be in the right place\Nat the right time.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.73,0:06:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's a very simple, easy technique;\NI'll show you what it looks like.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.52,0:06:19.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We use a pole camera on the boat\Nto actually film the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.60,0:06:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One, it's to try and work out\Nthe gender of the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.29,0:06:24.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a picture\Nthat you can't really see
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.60,0:06:27.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we cut off the green tag\Non the shark from Kerry.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.56,0:06:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We also deployed some satellite tags,\Nso we did use high-tech stuff as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.24,0:06:33.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are archival tags.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.18,0:06:35.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What they do is store the data.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.14,0:06:38.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A satellite tag only works\Nwhen the air is clear of the water
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.55,0:06:40.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and can send a signal to the satellite.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.47,0:06:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And sharks and fish\Nare underwater most of the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.95,0:06:45.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so this tag actually works out\Nthe locations of shark,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.90,0:06:49.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on the timing\Nand the setting of the sun,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.29,0:06:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plus water temperature and depth.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.26,0:06:53.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you have to kind of\Nreconstruct the path.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.46,0:06:54.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What happens is,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.65,0:06:57.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you set the tag to detach\Nfrom the shark after a fixed period --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.77,0:06:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this case, eight months --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.19,0:07:01.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and literally to the day,\Nthe tag popped off,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.32,0:07:03.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,drifted up, said hello to the satellite
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.22,0:07:06.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sent, not all the data,\Nbut enough data for us to use.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.12,0:07:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the only way to really work out\Ntheir behavior and movements
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.38,0:07:10.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they're underwater.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.48,0:07:14.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here's a couple\Nof maps that we've done.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.40,0:07:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that one, you can see\Nthat we tagged both off Kerry.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.58,0:07:22.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basically, it spent all its time,\Nthe last eight months, in Irish waters.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.49,0:07:24.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On Christmas, it was out\Non the shelf edge.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.52,0:07:26.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's one we haven't ground-truthed yet
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.49,0:07:28.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with sea-surface temperature\Nand water depth,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.64,0:07:31.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but again, the second shark\Nspent most of its time
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.42,0:07:32.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in and around the Irish Sea.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.79,0:07:36.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Colleagues from the Isle of Man\Nlast year actually tagged one shark
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.59,0:07:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that went from the Isle of Man\Nto Nova Scotia in about 90 days.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.80,0:07:43.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nine and a half thousand kilometers --\Nwe never thought that happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.15,0:07:47.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another colleague in the States\Ntagged about 20 sharks off Massachusetts.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.09,0:07:48.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His tags didn't really work.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.56,0:07:50.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All he knows is where he tagged them,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.42,0:07:51.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and where they popped off.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.91,0:07:54.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His tags popped off in the Caribbean,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.25,0:07:55.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even in Brazil.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.80,0:07:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We thought basking sharks\Nwere temperate animals
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.14,0:07:59.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lived in our latitudes,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.66,0:08:02.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in actual fact, they're obviously\Ncrossing the equator as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.87,0:08:04.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So very simple things like that,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.66,0:08:06.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're trying to learn\Nabout basking sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.71,0:08:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One thing that I think\Nis a very surprising and strange thing
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.28,0:08:14.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is just how low the genetic\Ndiversity of sharks is.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.27,0:08:17.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not a geneticist, so I won't pretend\Nto understand the genetics.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.76,0:08:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's why it's great\Nto have collaboration.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.14,0:08:21.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whereas I'm a field person,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.48,0:08:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get panic attacks
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.02,0:08:26.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I have to spend too many hours\Nin a lab with a white coat on.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.20,0:08:27.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Take me away.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.45,0:08:30.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we can work with geneticists\Nwho understand that.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.76,0:08:33.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when they looked at\Nthe genetics of basking sharks,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.36,0:08:37.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they found that the diversity\Nwas incredibly low.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.59,0:08:40.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you look at the first line, really,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.48,0:08:43.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see that all these different\Nshark species are all quite similar.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.96,0:08:45.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think this means they're all sharks
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.76,0:08:47.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they've come from a common ancestry.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.71,0:08:50.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if you look at nucleotide diversity,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.10,0:08:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is more genetics\Nthat are passed on through the parents,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.35,0:08:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you see that basking sharks,\Nif you look at the first study,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.01,0:09:03.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was order of magnitude less diverse\Neven than other shark species.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.60,0:09:05.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see this work\Nwas only done in 2006.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.70,0:09:09.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before 2006, we had no idea of the genetic\Nvariability of basking sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.76,0:09:14.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We had no idea: Did they distinguish\Ninto different populations?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.79,0:09:16.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Were there subpopulations?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.09,0:09:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's very important\Nif you want to know
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.27,0:09:21.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the population size is,\Nand the status of the animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.07,0:09:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, Les Noble in Aberdeen kind of found\Nthis a bit unbelievable, really.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.70,0:09:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he did another study\Nusing microsatellites,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.31,0:09:31.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is much more expensive,\Nmuch more time-consuming,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.95,0:09:35.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to his surprise,\Ncame up with almost identical results.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.23,0:09:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it does seem to be\Nthat basking sharks, for some reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.17,0:09:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have incredibly low diversity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.96,0:09:42.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's thought maybe\Nit was a genetic bottleneck,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.78,0:09:44.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thought to have been 12,000 years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.88,0:09:47.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this has caused a very low diversity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.42,0:09:49.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yet, if you look at the whale shark,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.41,0:09:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is the other\Nplankton-eating large shark,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.15,0:09:53.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its diversity is much greater.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.64,0:09:56.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it doesn't really make sense at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.10,0:09:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They found that there was\Nno genetic differentiation
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.56,0:10:01.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between any of the world's oceans\Nof basking sharks:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.04,0:10:03.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though they're found\Nthroughout the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.31,0:10:05.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you couldn't tell\Nthe difference, genetically,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.49,0:10:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from one from the Pacific, Atlantic,\NNew Zealand, Ireland, South Africa.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.94,0:10:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They all basically seem the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.55,0:10:13.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which, again, is kind of surprising;\Nyou wouldn't expect that.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.48,0:10:15.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't understand or pretend\Nto understand this;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.85,0:10:17.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I suspect most geneticists don't either,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.78,0:10:19.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they produce the numbers.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.20,0:10:21.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you can actually estimate\Nthe population size
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.55,0:10:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,based on the diversity of the genetics.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.74,0:10:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Rus Hoelzel came up with\Nan effective population size:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.32,0:10:31.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,8,200 animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.18,0:10:34.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's it -- 8,000 animals in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.11,0:10:36.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're thinking,\N"That's ridiculous. No way."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.05,0:10:39.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Les did a finer study,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.00,0:10:42.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he found out it came out about 9,000.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.80,0:10:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Using different microsatellites\Ngave the different results,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.71,0:10:50.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the mean of all these\Nstudies is about 5,000,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.37,0:10:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I personally don't believe.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.00,0:10:53.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then, I am a skeptic.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.65,0:10:56.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But even if you toss a few numbers around,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.11,0:10:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're probably talking an effective\Npopulation of about 20,000 animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.55,0:11:04.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you remember how many they killed\Noff Achill in the 70s and the 50s?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.09,0:11:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what it tells us, actually,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.81,0:11:09.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that there's actually a risk\Nof extinction of this species
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.08,0:11:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because its population is so small.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.00,0:11:12.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, of those 20,000,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.56,0:11:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,8,000 were thought to be females.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.75,0:11:17.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's only 8,000 basking shark\Nfemales in the world?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.46,0:11:19.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know. I don't believe it.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.72,0:11:23.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem with this\Nis they were constrained with samples.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.39,0:11:24.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They didn't get enough samples
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.100,0:11:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to really explore the genetics\Nin enough detail.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.31,0:11:33.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, where do you get samples from\Nfor your genetic analysis?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.27,0:11:36.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, one obvious source is -
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.37,0:11:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dead sharks, washed up.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.16,0:11:41.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We might get two or three dead sharks\Nwashed up in Ireland a year,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.84,0:11:43.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we're kind of lucky.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.38,0:11:45.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another source would be\Nfisheries' bycatch.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.76,0:11:48.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We were getting quite a few caught\Nin surface drift nets.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.77,0:11:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's banned now, and that'll be\Ngood news for the sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.58,0:11:53.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And some are caught in nets, in trawls.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.52,0:11:57.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a shark that was actually\Nlanded in Howth just before Christmas --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.16,0:12:00.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,illegally, because you're not allowed\Nto do that under EU law --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.22,0:12:04.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was actually sold\Nfor eight euros a kilo as shark steak.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.98,0:12:06.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They even put a recipe up on the wall,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.82,0:12:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until they were told it was illegal.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.63,0:12:10.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They actually did get a fine for that.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.51,0:12:13.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Any of you tried it, no?\NI don't think it's that nice.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.73,0:12:16.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you look at\Nall those studies I showed you,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.78,0:12:19.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the total number of samples worldwide
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.46,0:12:20.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is 86, at present.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.76,0:12:23.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's very important work,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.87,0:12:25.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they can ask\Nsome really good questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.99,0:12:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tell us about population size\Nand subpopulations and structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.30,0:12:32.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're constrained\Nby lack of samples.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.64,0:12:35.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we were out tagging our sharks --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.52,0:12:38.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is how we tagged them on the front\Nof a RIB, get in there fast --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.85,0:12:42.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,occasionally, the sharks do react.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.24,0:12:44.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On one occasion, when we were\Nup in Malin Head in Donegal,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.02,0:12:48.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the shark smacked the side\Nof the boat with his tail,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.44,0:12:51.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more, I think, in startle to the fact\Nthat a boat came near it,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.61,0:12:53.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather than the tag going in.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.58,0:12:57.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then when myself and Emmett\Ngot back to Malin Head, to the pier,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.59,0:13:00.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I noticed some black slime\Non the front of the boat.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.96,0:13:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I used to spend a lot of time\Non commercial fishing boats,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.71,0:13:05.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I remember fishermen saying
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.21,0:13:08.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can tell when a basking shark\Nhas been caught in a net,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.06,0:13:09.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it leaves a black slime behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.96,0:13:11.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that must have come from the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.82,0:13:15.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we had an interest\Nin getting tissue samples for genetics
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.24,0:13:17.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we knew they were very valuable.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.25,0:13:18.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We would use conventional methods;
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.93,0:13:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have a crossbow --\Nyou see it in my hand there,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.27,0:13:25.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which we use to sample whales\Nand dolphins for genetic studies as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.68,0:13:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I tried that, I tried many techniques.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.68,0:13:29.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All it was doing was breaking my arrows,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.63,0:13:32.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the shark's skin\Nis just so strong.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.18,0:13:34.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was no way we were going\Nto get a sample from that.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.08,0:13:37.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That wasn't going to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.68,0:13:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when I saw the black slime\Non the bow of the boat,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.26,0:13:43.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought, "If you take\Nwhat you're given in this world ..."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.26,0:13:44.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I scraped it off.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.45,0:13:48.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a little tube with alcohol in it\Nto send to the geneticists.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.87,0:13:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I scraped the slime off\Nand sent it to Aberdeen,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.95,0:13:53.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and said, "You might try that."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.49,0:13:55.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they sat on it for months.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.12,0:13:57.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was only because we had\Na conference on the Isle of Man.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.96,0:13:59.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I kept emailing Les, saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.52,0:14:01.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Have you had a chance\Nto look at my slime?"
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.64,0:14:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he was like, "Yeah, yeah. Later."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.51,0:14:06.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He thought he'd better do it\Nbecause I never met him before;
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.35,0:14:09.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he might lose face if he hadn't done\Nthe thing I sent him.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.13,0:14:11.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he was amazed that they actually\Ngot DNA from the slime.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.01,0:14:13.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They amplified it and they tested it,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.87,0:14:16.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they found, yes,\Nthis was actually basking shark DNA,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.69,0:14:18.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was got from the slime.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.47,0:14:21.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he was very excited.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.66,0:14:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It became known as "Simon's shark slime."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.97,0:14:27.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I thought, "Hey, you know,\NI can build on this."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.88,0:14:31.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we thought, OK, we're going to try\Nto get out and get some slime.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.67,0:14:35.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So having spent three-and-a-half\Nthousand on satellite tags ...
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.39,0:14:41.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I then thought I'd invest 7.95 --\Nthe price is still on it --
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.85,0:14:44.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in my local hardware store in Kilrush
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.06,0:14:45.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a mop handle,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.86,0:14:48.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even less money on some oven cleaners.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.80,0:14:52.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I wrapped the oven cleaner\Naround the edge of the mop handle
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.30,0:14:53.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ...
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.80,0:14:55.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.38,0:14:58.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was desperate to have an opportunity\Nto get some sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.94,0:15:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was into August now,\Nand normally sharks peak in June, July,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.75,0:15:06.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you rarely see them,\Nor rarely can be in the right place
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.77,0:15:08.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to find sharks into August.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.34,0:15:10.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We were desperate,\Nso we rushed out to the Blaskets
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.80,0:15:12.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as soon as we heard\Nthere were sharks there,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.89,0:15:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and managed to find some sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.44,0:15:18.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So by just rubbing\Nthe mop handle down the shark
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.53,0:15:20.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it swam under the boat --
Dialogue: 0,0:15:20.12,0:15:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you see a shark\Nrunning under the boat here --
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.46,0:15:24.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we managed to collect slime.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.82,0:15:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here it is.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.09,0:15:29.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Look at that lovely black shark slime.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.85,0:15:34.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in about half an hour,\Nwe got five samples.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.46,0:15:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Five individual sharks were sampled
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.24,0:15:39.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using Simon's Shark Slime Sampling System.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.10,0:15:40.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.94,0:15:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:46.29,0:15:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been working on whales and dolphins\Nin Ireland for 20 years now,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.57,0:15:51.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're a bit more dramatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:51.13,0:15:53.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You probably saw\Nthe humpback whale footage
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.19,0:15:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we got a month or two ago\Noff County Wexford.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.32,0:15:57.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you always think\Nyou might have some legacy
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.60,0:15:59.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can leave the world behind,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.12,0:16:02.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was thinking of humpback\Nwhales breaching and dolphins.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:02.08,0:16:04.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But hey -- sometimes\Nthese things are sent to you
Dialogue: 0,0:16:04.48,0:16:06.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you just have to take them\Nwhen they come.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:06.70,0:16:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is possibly\Ngoing to be my legacy --
Dialogue: 0,0:16:08.82,0:16:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon's Shark Slime.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.49,0:16:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We got more money this year
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.15,0:16:15.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to carry on collecting\Nmore and more samples.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.69,0:16:19.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One thing that is very useful\Nis that we use a pole camera --
Dialogue: 0,0:16:19.66,0:16:22.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is my colleague, Joanne,\Nwith a pole camera --
Dialogue: 0,0:16:22.09,0:16:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you can look underneath the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:24.06,0:16:27.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you're trying to look at is,\Nthe males have claspers,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.55,0:16:30.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which kind of dangle out\Nbehind the back of the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.19,0:16:32.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you can quite easily tell\Nthe gender of the shark.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.81,0:16:37.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we can tell the gender of the shark\Nbefore we sample it,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:37.38,0:16:40.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can tell the geneticist\Nthis was taken from a male or a female.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:40.52,0:16:43.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because in the moment,\Nthey have no way, genetically,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:43.04,0:16:45.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of telling the difference\Nbetween a male and a female,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:45.60,0:16:46.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I find staggering,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:46.79,0:16:49.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they don't know\Nwhat primers to look for.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:49.40,0:16:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Being able to tell the gender of a shark
Dialogue: 0,0:16:51.73,0:16:55.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is very important\Nfor things like policing the trade
Dialogue: 0,0:16:56.00,0:17:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in basking shark and other species\Nthrough the sightings,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:00.42,0:17:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it is illegal\Nto trade in these sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:02.66,0:17:04.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they are caught and are on the market.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:04.72,0:17:06.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as a field biologist,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:06.82,0:17:09.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you just want to get encounters\Nwith these animals,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:09.29,0:17:10.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and learn as much as you can.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:10.70,0:17:14.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're often quite brief,\Nthey're often very seasonally constrained.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:14.13,0:17:17.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You just want to learn as much\Nas you can as soon as you can.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.06,0:17:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But isn't it fantastic
Dialogue: 0,0:17:18.85,0:17:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can then offer\Nthese samples and opportunities
Dialogue: 0,0:17:22.38,0:17:25.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to other disciplines,\Nsuch as the geneticists,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:25.22,0:17:27.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who can gain so much more from that.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:27.70,0:17:31.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as I said, these things\Nare sent to you in strange ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:31.43,0:17:32.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grab them while you can.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:32.70,0:17:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll take that as my scientific legacy.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:34.67,0:17:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hopefully, I might get something\Na bit more dramatic and romantic
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.78,0:17:39.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before I die.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.05,0:17:42.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for the time being,\Nthank you for that.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:42.18,0:17:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And keep an eye out for sharks.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:44.16,0:17:46.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So thank you and thank you for listening.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:46.15,0:17:48.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)