Have you ever wondered what shark researchers really do? Have you wondered what shark species inhabit RI waters and what questions researchers are trying to answer? Or, how warming water temperatures may be changing what shark species we see here in RI? Well if you have, or just want to learn about some really cool research being conducted by RI’s own Atlantic Shark Institute, don’t miss this always entertaining session and one of the most popular topics we host every year! 

 

Jon is the Executive Director of the Atlantic Shark Institute based in South Kingstown, RI. The ASI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is dedicated to answering the most pressing questions concerning the biology, survival and sustainability of sharks in the NW Atlantic. Jon is an experienced marine biologist who has spent his entire life on the water with a particular focus and affinity for sharks. From his first close encounter with a blue shark at age 14, he has been fascinated by sharks and their growing need for greater understanding and protection in many parts of the world. Jon has caught, tagged and released more than 1,000 sharks and he has co-authored a number of published papers on various shark research projects. He brings a wealth of real-world experience to this research and has worked with a wide variety of shark species both above and below the water. He has appeared on many networks discussing sharks and also appeared in countless articles such as Discovery, National Geographic, Shark Week, SharkFest, NBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, Forbes, Fortune, US News and World Report and many more. Jon began his shark career working as a volunteer at the NMFS Apex Predator (Shark) Investigation Lab in Narragansett, RI and holds an Advanced Open Water Dive Certification. Jon earned a Biology degree with a fisheries focus from the University of Rhode Island and he is a Fellow of the Explorers Club in NY.

Jules Craynock is a fulltime resident of Block Island, RI, having retired in 2011 after 37 years Federal service. This includes 5 years in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator and later 32 years as a Research Oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, Fl. At NOAA/AOML he was a Master Diver in charge of a NOAA Research Diving Unit for 25 years, participating in numerous U/W habitat and submersible deployments, special U/W sampling equipment design and testing, and training and qualifying teams in scientific diving procedures and sampling design implementation. A graduate of Cornell University, he has completed numerous graduate level courses in underwater acoustics, sound analysis, marine mammal biology, and advanced procedures for oceanographic field operations. Research contributions include work on the source and fate of coastal pollutants, human activities impact upon coral reefs, and the acoustic effects of human activities upon marine mammals. In the USN, he had extensive service as a Mission Commander of a specially configured P3C Orion aircraft in the Arctic/North Atlantic, involving highly classified acoustic intelligence and environmental data collection missions. Jules started work with ASI/BRUVS since its inception in 2021. A currently RI certified veterinary technician (CVT), he is also a First Responder with the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue and assists environmental groups in RI and BI.