Shark Bait Ooh Ha Ha!
Erika Schoeneberg
June 8th, 2017
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Water splashes up onto the Sea Siren’s deck as our class heads out to tag sharks in the Atlantic Ocean near the Dania Beach Area. There are clouds looming in the distance and the Atlantic is choppy, causing the vessel to rock side to side where Mr. 40 Under Forty stands gripping the side bar. Mr. 40 under Forty, a.k.a Derek Burkholber is our sharkbait (guide) for the day. Before he got eaten by a shark the following interview was able to take place:
Q: What is 40 Under Forty and why do you think you were nominated for it?
A: The South Florida Business Journal takes nominations each year for businessmen, lawyers and just working people in general who have had a positive impact. I was picked because I work with sharks. (Laughs) I think I was picked because I am innovative.
Q: With which colleges and universities have you studied?
A: I earned my undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in biology from Albion College in Michigan. After that I went on to earn my PhD in marine biology from Florida International University. Currently I work at Nova Southeastern University.
Q: What exactly is your job title?
A: Wow, what exactly is my job title? Well, there are a few of them. I am a research scientist with the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Save our Seas Shark Center. I am the Principal Investigator for the Brower County Sea Turtle Conservation Program. I am the Vice President of Sharks for Kids. I am also the director or the Marine Environmental Education Center at the Carpenter House.
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: Definitely the field work and working with students. I work with great people and I love sharing information with others.
Q: What is the biggest shark you have caught on this vessel, what about the biggest ever?
A: The biggest on this vessel was a 13 foot Tiger Shark. Overall I caught a 17 foot Six Gill Shark in the Gulf of Mexico.
Q: If you weren’t working these jobs what would you do?
A: I would be looking for these jobs. (Laughs) I would probably be teaching at a smaller liberal arts college.
Q: How did you get into your field?
A: I had a lot of friends who lived in Florida but mainly I had one really awesome Professor at Albion who worked with nurse sharks in the Keys.
Q: What is the biggest challenge in your career and what is a way to overcome it?
A: The funding and keeping projects going. There is a lot of work to be done and not a lot of money to do it. A way to overcome it is to diversify how the work gets done. Still look for grants, but also have people pay to come aboard and help out like you are doing today because it helps a lot. You can work with private donors as well.
Q: Have you ever been bit by a shark?
A: I have never been bitten, I was scratched once. I have been beat up by a few because they are strong animals.
Q: What is the most common shark you catch around this area? (our of Nova Southeastern University campus in Dania Beach, Florida)
A: The Nurse Shark is most common, the next would have to be the Lemon or Sand Bar, I would have to look at the data to be sure.
Q: If you could work anywhere in the world where would it be?
A: Australia
Q: What is the number one threat to the ocean in your opinion?
A: Humans. Definitely humans and then climate change.
Q: Out of all the organizations you work for which is your favorite?
A: Sharks for Kids. It is an educational program that has online information available for teachers to use in schools. We offer programs where we skype with students or kids in general and teach them about sharks and talk to them about the importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem.
The rest of this interview was cut short because Mr. Burkholber got eaten. Just kidding! But it sure hooked your attention! Speaking of hooks, we ended the interview to go check the lines but you should check out more information about Derek and his programs here at http://saveourseas.com/project/sharks4kids-app/ and http://cnso.nova.edu/carpenter-house-meec/about-us/staff-bios.html
#interviews #sharktagging #marinesciencejobs
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