Achievements
Dr. Austin Gallagher has become well-known for his contributions in marine science and exploration, and has been at the forefront of ocean discovery and technological innovation. Over the last decade, Austin has brought several scientific and industry ‘firsts’ to the ocean space, has pioneered research in new locations, and made several eye-opening new discoveries.
2021: Discovery of world’s largest seagrass meadow, up to 93,000 sq. km, in The Bahamas
2021: First description of the genome of the Caribbean reef shark
2021: First application of 360-degree camera technology to shark tracking
2021: First publication on the long-term movements of sharks within a shark sanctuary
2021: First scientist to conduct deep-sea research in the Turks and Caicos Islands
2021: First description of humpback whale playing with a lion’s mane jellyfish
2021: First account of harmful metal concentrations in sharks from The Bahamas
2020: Deepest scientific records for over 10 species of fishes and sharks in the Caribbean
2020: First to publish on the ecological impacts of white sharks in the Atlantic
2020: First description of sawfish occurrence in Biscayne Bay, Miami Florida, USA
2019: First video recordings and imagery of the sharpnose sevengill shark, at 2200 feet deep
2019: First global assessment of shark and fishing vessel movements using big-data approach
2019: First description of a potential new species of bonnethead shark off Panama
2018: First behavioral ecology study of shark sanctuaries
2018: First description of the acoustic ecology of the Bocon toadfish, off Panama
2018: First method for safely catching and sampling Wilson’s storm petrel at sea
2017: First evaluation of plasma lipids in wild sharks
2016: First detailed examination of the reproductive biology of tiger sharks
2015: First record of kelp gulls preying on fur seals
2015: Leader for first scientific expedition to study shark behavior off Japan
2014: First record of reproductive behavior of oceanic whitetip sharks
2014: First evaluation of large coastal shark stress response to capture
2014: First description of circulating energy stores in large sharks
2012: First tracking study of migratory behavior of tiger sharks in the Atlantic
2011: Furthest northerly range described for the great hammerhead
2011: New record of bird consumption by tiger sharks
2011: First published description of the socioeconomic value of sharks to the diving industry