Scientist films sharks underwater off the Philippines
Published:
A MARINE biologist has returned from an “absolutely phenomenal” experience working with conservationists in the Philippines to protect a threatened species of shark.
Lauren Smith, who graduated from Aberdeen University with a PhD in marine biology last year, was part of a group of volunteers studying the behaviour of the thresher shark.
The creatures are prized for their meat and fins, which are used in shark fin soup, and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Miss Smith, 27, spent three months at Monad Shoal, off Malapascua Island, where sharks swim to be “cleaned”.
She said: “I had an amazing time examining the behaviour of these open ocean predators.
“The sharks pick up parasites such as sea lice during their travels, so they come to ‘cleaning stations’, which are unique areas of coral reefs where cleaner fish live. These cleaner fish feed on the parasites found on the sharks.
“I was involved in the underwater filming of thresher sharks and studying the interaction between the sharks and the cleaner fish.”
Miss Smith also managed to go diving with whale sharks, pygmy devil rays and grey reef sharks.
Miss Smith, of George Street, Aberdeen, has now returned to her post as a senior research scientist studying the shark immune system, and is hoping to develop her research through the website at www.sharkiologist.com
