Tessera

Here is an UN article about our recent work in the Indian Ocean where we explored and mapped vulnerable ecosystems, investigated fisheries resources, studied rare deep-sea shark species, and monitor seabirds and whales in the Southwest Indian Ocean offshore region. www.fao.org/newsroom/sto...

encountered some Taningia danae while I sampling at sea a while back. They get ~7ft long and have photophores the size of chicken eggs that it has at them ends of its arms which they used to flash and stun prey. Who knows what other crazy creatures and adaptations we will discover next!

Here is a beautiful gulper shark that we sighted at 1400 m depth in the Indian Ocean last year. We deployed 3 cameras on each dive and collected eDNA, which should make for a very interesting study :) 🦈 🔬 🧪 🤓

Everyone's Megamouth enthusiasm and support reminds me to share this exciting paper we published two years ago. Big shout out to all the friends and collaborators who made this happen! www.sharkmans-world.org/doc/Clerkin%...

Here are a few more puctures from my fanastic trip to the Smithsonian earlier this week. Its hard not to nerd out in their fish collection. Which of these species do you like/love the most?

I am so honored to have been invited to the Smithsonian to perform the dissection on their historic Megamouth shark. This is the LARGEST of their >6 mil fish specimens. We collected a TON of samples and hope to answer the important questions that will help protect this unique and beautiful species

You always have to be careful measuring the sharp end.

Another happy tag and release in the Atlantic with NOAA a few years ago. I love finding these photos.

You got enough teeth there, bud?

Paul Clerkin @paulclerkin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

This warm weather has me ready to get back in the field! We took out the hook and cleaned those parasites out of this Sandtigers nostrils/nares. Of course, we collected data, tagged and released it. Look at those chompers!

Here is a story about some of the work we did last year in the Indian Ocean offshore deep-sea region. It was so exciting to do cutting edge science with a fantastic team and know that our work will inform management, conservation, and ultimately help protect our oceans. www.fao.org/in-action/co...

Research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen unveils the secrets of the Indian Ocean’s international waters

The UN-flagged research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen has completed a landmark scientific mission to the high seas of the southwest Indian Ocean, shedding n...

fao.org

Paul Clerkin @paulclerkin.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I stumbled upon this picture from Alaska during Shark Week 2020. I love exploring with this little ROV. Where would you like to take an ROV?

The Qatar airport was super nice! I could have spent a little more time here actually :)

I can't believe we captured video of the ultra rare Dark Mouth Chimaera (Chimaera buccanigella), known from only two specimens and never seen alive before! I also discovered this species so I was over the moon. What a lucky shot 🤩

was so excited to do this deepwater camera work in the Indian Ocean! We got a ton of great shots including this deepwater lantern shark. Most lantern sharks can generate light which they use for defense and communication. There are ~50 species and a lot of them are hard to tell apart.

I was very excited to deliver this talk at the Explorers Club in NYC last year. I have been trying to incorporate 3D scans and cyber-taxonomy into my work to shift access to important specimens from limited and exclusive to a small group to radically open to anyone. The technology is here!

Hard to believe it has been 10 full years since I was last in South Africa. Time sure does fly.

Look at those stabby stabbies on this lantern shark!

I love the holiday season. It’s nice to have the Christmas decorations up at sea but it makes me miss my own decorations and the fresh snow in Virginia. Someone stop me from going to sea so close to the holidays next year!

After climbing a bunch of ladders I finally made it up to the crows nest :) just in time for the sunset.

Another wonderful deepwater camera deployment! We’re going to 1400 meters 🤩 Bring the popcorn!

We had another successful and beautiful BRUVs deployment. I did 8 hours straight without realizing it. The scenes are amazing and the pilot chairs in the ROV room are very cozy :) I don’t mind doing deepsea exploration in my sweat pants.

This is a Loose Jaw. For a long time researchers thought the membrane on the bottom of its jaw was damaged in specimens but it turns out they don’t have a membrane there so they can snap the jaws faster. Nature is wild. This group is so fascinating and let’s face it, terrifying.

In 2013 I did an Alien Shark documentary for Shark Week with Captain Phil where we discovered new unknown species on the show (a shark week first)! Phil is so knowledgeable that he is a consultant on the FAO/UN research expedition I am on now. It is great to see him.

Look at this beautiful ROV! I’ve decided I want one.

There is a story from FAO/UN about the expedition I am on. We are testing the digital key we have been working on and studying deepwater sharks using taxonomy, genetics, eDNA, and underwater video. I am having a WONDERFUL time 🤩 www.fao.org/in-action/co...