🔬🌟 We are delighted to have had the opportunity to talk to M.Sc., Ph.D. Andrej A. Gajić in our third BH academic interview! 🎓
He is an internationally award-winning scientist, distinguished lecturer, underwater explorer, ROV pilot and author of documentary programmes.
As a doctor of veterinary sciences with a master's degree in biology and conservation, he works on understanding the survival rates and basic biology of sharks and rays. As study lead, he has led 21 international projects.
He has supervised and co-supervised several master's and undergraduate theses at Ghent University, Marche Polytechnic University, Université d'Angers and others.
He is the author of more than 79 scientific publications, 41 of which are papers in peer-reviewed journals.
He is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the journal @Aquatic Conservation (Q1, Wiley) and a reviewer for leading journals such as PloS One, Fish Biology and others.
For his scientific contributions he has been named an Ambassador of the Barcelona Convention (UNEP MAP), and he is the recipient of a Special Government Recognition for outstanding scientific contribution, the EC Leadership award from National Geographic, Man of the Year and several others. As an invited speaker, he has spoken at numerous events in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa.
He has worked as a study lead and expert reviewer for National Geographic and Dicovery Channel.
His work has been reported on by more than 300 media outlets in over 70 countries around the world.
He currently leads several international study programmes in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our interviewee for his cooperation and for answering our questions from faraway East Lombok; below you can read what we talked about.
1. Your research is currently focused on rare and endangered species of sharks and rays in the Adriatic Sea. What measures need to be taken to improve the status of these species?
To truly improve the status of rare and endangered species of sharks and rays in the Adriatic Sea, coordinated action is key in amending and/or developing policies, significantly improving monitoring and research, and working actively with the local community (especially fishers). Establishing legal frameworks and policies that regulate fishing, provide direct protection for species and reduce pollution is crucial for conservation. For many species, especially highly migratory ones, synergy at the international level is essential. In addition, educating fishers and local communities about sustainable practices and the importance of conservation can contribute significantly to their protection – as can be clearly seen through our work in Albania. To develop species-specific and effective measures for long-term protection, we need accurate and precise data on the species, their key habitats and the current state of their populations. Unfortunately, some of the available data on certain key species do not come close to reflecting the actual state of their populations. Therefore, significant improvement in the monitoring and scientific research of this group is essential. It is also particularly important that we understand the effectiveness of individual measures, such as understanding post-release survival – which is especially significant for bycatch (unwanted species caught accidentally and discarded after capture), which includes a significant number of critically endangered sharks and rays.
2. At the age of 17 you started Sharklab as an organisation to research sharks and rays. Can you compare Sharklab's beginnings with its current state and highlight the key events that enabled Sharklab to become what it is today?
When I started Sharklab at 17, it was a very modest initiative with the basic goal of making a modest contribution to the understanding and protection of sharks and rays. Looking back, I believe two quality blockbusters could be made about our beginnings and the journey we have been on. What I really could never have imagined is that we would be among the leaders in our part of the planet – as evidenced by the quality of our publications, the projects we have carried out and the awards we have won. Today, we carry out most of our programmes directly with the world's leading institutions engaged in scientific and popular-science work, such as National Geographic, UNEP, the Explorers Club, Discovery Channel and numerous leading universities.
What I would personally single out as key events in our development is certainly the work on the EU Common Fisheries Policy back in 2009, the funding of studies and projects (23 in the past seven years) mostly by the most prestigious and most competitive foundations of today, and the papers we have published in leading scientific journals.
3. So far you have authored more than 70 scientific publications and collaborated with numerous institutions and scientists around the world. What skills would you recommend that people just entering the world of research, who would like to achieve success at your level, should develop?
To people just entering the world of research, I would recommend above all that they have faith and do not give up. Success in science is nothing other than the result of consistency and perseverance, even when obstacles seem insurmountable — and at the beginning (and often throughout one's whole career) they will frequently seem exactly that. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth and learning, and it is important to remember that failures are an integral part of the process. They are precisely what lead to the most important discoveries and progress. The key is to keep working with the same dedication and passion regardless of the difficulties, because science demands diligence and a great deal of patience.
Of course, it is also extremely important to develop analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. Communication skills are essential, both for writing good papers and for developing projects. Likewise, the ability to work in a team and collaborate across different disciplines can significantly improve research projects and bring innovation and uniqueness to your work.
4. Can you highlight some discoveries that fascinated or surprised you during your career?
Throughout my career, every discovery has truly fascinated me in its own way. Still, I am happy to single out a few recent ones. Through our systematic research, we discovered a population and nursery area of a species that had not been recorded at all in our region in this century, which we published in Animal Conservation (Wiley) and the Journal of Fish Biology (Wiley). Also, in a recent paper that a colleague and I published in MMS, we provided insight into the status of a deep-water shark species in the southern Adriatic that had been almost unknown until now. Furthermore, I provided the first data on the health status and survival rate of one of our rarest deep-sea sharks, primarily using MRI – which I published in Aquatic Conservation (Wiley). With my students from Ghent University, while supervising two master's theses, I discovered the first case of a pigmentation disorder in deep-sea sharks of the angular roughshark family, which is only the 15th recorded case in deep-water species worldwide, and we published it in the Journal of Fish Biology (Wiley). Furthermore, last year I discovered the world's first case of a blue shark surviving after being stabbed in the head by a swordfish, which I published in Marine Biodiversity (Springer).
5. As a Mediterranean Ambassador, you are directly involved in the conservation and promotion of biodiversity in the region. How do you see the potential of the BH Academic Directory to become a tool for education and raising awareness of environmental issues, especially in the context of researchers from BiH working on similar topics?
As Ambassador for the Mediterranean Sea under the Barcelona Convention, I believe that the BH Academic Directory has significant potential to become a tool for education and raising awareness of numerous environmental issues. Through cooperation with researchers and institutions in BiH, the directory can serve as a platform for sharing knowledge, resources and research results. It can also promote projects dealing with biodiversity conservation and support young researchers in their development. By involving local communities in educational programmes, we can raise awareness of the importance of nature conservation and encourage active participation in environmental protection.
