[Nhcoll-l] FW: SAWFISH ROSTRA: researchers looking for rostra to measure for conservation oriented studies

[Bentley, Andrew Charles]

The Sawfish Conservation Society (www.sawfishconservationsociety.org<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sawfishconservationsociety.org&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=XpNU2wygmwj5hzcntgaDHsWrJWGZNvhBG7cHh-AZBEM&e= >) has partnered with the UK-based Shark Trust (www.sharktrust.org<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sharktrust.org&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=u6ukpIJ9InBHdv1SBv7AQf6xXAOZnx8U-JYtetXdeXo&e= >) and The Deep aquarium (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.thedeep.co.uk_&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=gREygxJjuMvfuxbn3DGCCDfTJtQSJmDlY5Rzt_fV-yQ&e= ) 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, we are contacting you to enquire about whether your institute houses sawfish rostra, 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.
 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.
 As a thank you for participating, your institute will be acknowledged in any published scientific papers.
 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.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact us at sawfishconservationsociety at gmail.com<mailto:sawfishconservationsociety at gmail.com> if you have any questions. You can learn more about this program at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sawfishconservationsociety.org_Report-2520a-2520Saw.html&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=sgZucBxX-rrSorNAI-5Eut4-Fu-hxy1IjFA7rhZwXgY&e= .
-Sincerely,
Jeff M Whitty
Founder/Co-Administrator
Sawfish Conservation Society
sawfishconservationsociety at gmail.com<mailto:sawfishconservationsociety at gmail.com>
www.sawfishconservationsociety.org<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sawfishconservationsociety.org&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=J-FfbpnBiqzUqvymWbmXw_SpKj7b-xEqjD__Vbwjsug&s=XpNU2wygmwj5hzcntgaDHsWrJWGZNvhBG7cHh-AZBEM&e= >

Dr Nicole Phillips
Co-Administrator
Sawfish Conservation Society
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
The University of Southern Mississippi

Cat Gordon
Conservation Officer
The Shark Trust

Ali Hood
Director of Conservation
The Shark Trust

Dr Alec Moore
IUCN Shark Specialist Group
Hon. Research Fellow,
School of Ocean Sciences
Bangor University

Katy Duke
Curator
EAZA Studbook Keeper Pristis zijsron and Pristis pristis
The Deep


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