Speakers

Daytime

TBA

TBA

n 1987, the Massachusetts Shark Research Program (MSRP) was established to study the biology, ecology, and physiology of sharks in New England. In this presentation, I review the 40-year history of the program and highlight the concurrent evolution of new technologies to study these species. Ultimately, I show how the efforts of the MSRP have enhanced the sustainability and conservation of multiple shark species on a global scale.

Dr. Greg Skomal is an accomplished marine biologist, photographer, and author. He heads up the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, which studies the life history, ecology, and physiology of sharks. He has written dozens of research papers, and his work has been highlighted in several film and television documentaries for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and PBS. His most recent books are the Great White Shark Handbook and Chasing Shadows, which debunk the mysteries of the great white shark. Greg is a member of the Explorers Club and the Boston Sea Rovers, and he is the 2016 Diver of the Year.

Daytime

TBA

Gimbel

Is shipwreck salvage exploitation or essential historical preservation? In the unforgiving North Atlantic, shipwrecks and their artifacts face relentless destruction from environmental forces, commercial fishing, and structural collapse. Drawing on a decade of exploration and recovery aboard D/V *Tenacious*, Jennifer Sellitti challenges the argument that shipwrecks should be left untouched. Through compelling examples from the *Andrea Doria*, *Lusitania*, *Britannic* and other historic wrecks, she explores the legal, ethical, and practical case for responsible salvage and demonstrates how recovering, restoring, and sharing artifacts preserves not just maritime history, but the human stories behind it.

Jennifer N. Sellitti is the Managing Member of Atlantic Wreck Salvage and captain of D/V *Tenacious*, leading expeditions to discover, explore, and preserve historic shipwrecks. Her team’s discoveries include SS *Le Lyonnais*, ST *Seiner*, SS *West Point*, and the bow of MV *Stockholm*. A USCG-licensed captain, author of *The Adriatic Affair*, board member of the Steamship Historical Society, and trustee of the New Jersey Maritime Museum, Jennifer advocates for responsible salvage, historical preservation, and public education. Through exploration, research, and artifact recovery, she works to preserve maritime history and share the human stories behind these remarkable shipwrecks.