Research at Guy Harvey Research Institute receives National & International Media Coverage

White marlin – photo by Guy Harvey.

A scientific study published in the journal Bulletin of Marine Science by Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., Director of the NSU Guy Harvey Research Institute, with his graduate students and collaborators from NOAA Fisheries in Miami has received national and international coverage in over 120 media outlets.

Shivji’s genetics research has validated the existence of a previously unrecognized billfish species – Roundscale Spearfish – in the western Atlantic Ocean. The study showed that this species is virtually indistinguishable by eye from the fabled white marlin that is threatened with extinction due to over-fishing.

The close resemblance between the two species has likely caused species misidentifications in the catch records.  Previous population estimates of diminished white marlin stocks may consequently have been overestimated.

Discovery of the Roundscale Spearfish and potential for species mix-ups has triggered new population assessments of the White Marlin to determine if it should be prohibited from fishing by listing it under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

NSU OC research has been reported in worldwide media including Germany, UK, South Africa, Canada, Romania, as well as prominent US venues - Washington Post, National Public Radio All things Considered, and Science Magazine.

Many of these media reports are available on the Guy Harvey Research Institute web site.

Roundscale Spearfish – photo by G. Hinteregger.

OC students work on research that captured national media attention.