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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">The Sawfish Conservation Society (<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sawfishconservationsociety.org&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=XpNU2wygmwj5hzcntgaDHsWrJWGZNvhBG7cHh-AZBEM&e=">www.sawfishconservationsociety.org</a>) has partnered with the UK-based Shark Trust (<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sharktrust.org&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=u6ukpIJ9InBHdv1SBv7AQf6xXAOZnx8U-JYtetXdeXo&e=">www.sharktrust.org</a>)
and The Deep aquarium (<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.thedeep.co.uk_&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=gREygxJjuMvfuxbn3DGCCDfTJtQSJmDlY5Rzt_fV-yQ&e=">https://www.thedeep.co.uk/</a>) to promote the research and conservation of sawfish, the most threatened sharks/rays in the world. Together, our groups are assisting researchers in locating and sampling
‘saws’ (rostra) of the highly threatened sawfishes for use in several conservation oriented, international research studies. Museums hold the majority of rostra worldwide, and as such each museum has the opportunity to directly contribute to conservation
research. As such, <b><span style="background:yellow">we are contacting you to enquire about whether your institute houses sawfish rostra</span></b>, and if trained researchers would be allowed access to your collection in order to collect data from them,
or alternatively if museum staff would be able to measure and submit data when when few rostra are available. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU"> Ideally, data collection would involve both measuring and sampling tissue from each rostrum. The measuring process is simple, straightforward and non-destructive. The collection of tissue
samples from rostra is minimally invasive and our method of sampling has proven to be very effective at yielding DNA. Sampling of tissue consists of the removal of a small amount (i.e. a couple of square centimetres) of skin from the area where the rostrum
was originally cut. Every effort is made by the researchers to make it inconspicuous. The researchers will discuss exactly where and how they will take a skin sample before doing so.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU"> As a thank you for participating, your institute will be acknowledged in any published scientific papers.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU"> We would greatly appreciate it, if in your response to this letter you could inform us of the details of your collection (e.g. the number of rostra present and if known, the capture locations,
dates and species) and if you would be willing to grant access to researchers to your collection. Rostra with known capture location details are particularly valuable to our research.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact us at
<a href="mailto:sawfishconservationsociety@gmail.com">sawfishconservationsociety@gmail.com</a> if you have any questions. You can learn more about this program at
<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sawfishconservationsociety.org_Report-2520a-2520Saw.html&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=sgZucBxX-rrSorNAI-5Eut4-Fu-hxy1IjFA7rhZwXgY&e=">http://www.sawfishconservationsociety.org/Report%20a%20Saw.html</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">-Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Jeff M Whitty</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Founder/Co-Administrator
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Sawfish Conservation Society</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><a href="mailto:sawfishconservationsociety@gmail.com">sawfishconservationsociety@gmail.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sawfishconservationsociety.org&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=XpNU2wygmwj5hzcntgaDHsWrJWGZNvhBG7cHh-AZBEM&e=">www.sawfishconservationsociety.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Dr Nicole Phillips</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Co-Administrator
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Sawfish Conservation Society</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Assistant Professor</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Department of Biological Sciences</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">The University of Southern Mississippi
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Cat Gordon</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Conservation Officer</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">The Shark Trust</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Ali Hood</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Director of Conservation
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">The Shark Trust</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Dr Alec Moore</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">IUCN Shark Specialist Group</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Hon. Research Fellow,
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">School of Ocean Sciences
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Bangor University</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU">Katy Duke</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">Curator</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">EAZA Studbook Keeper <i>Pristis zijsron</i> and
<i>Pristis pristis</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt">The Deep</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><br clear="all" style="break-before: auto">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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