The PIT 2008 Crew Group Picture

Joey (aka "El Bandito") DiBattista - This is my third year of coming to PIT. Looking forward to dealing with live sharks, and not little pieces of tissue floating around in vials, for a change. The real ones can bite, although they usually don’t. Adversity is what makes the man (or woman), and so the storms, bugs, pressure, and rigors of field work will separate the men (and women) from the boys (or girls).

Tyler (aka "Bushbaby") Craven - I am very excited for my first PIT because I want to get a maximum amount of interaction with sharks. I am looking forward to a few intense weeks and pulling all-nighters for the sake of shark research. Also, I am considering going pro in gill net fixing and I figured this would be the best way to refine my skills. sharks rock!

Jana Rajnohova - Hi, I am Jana, Slovak girl, passionate for sharks and mangroves as well. I came for PIT to experience another exciting time of my life, work hard, have fun with people who make me laugh daily, get the feeling of insomnia again and renew my old Bimini scars which have already started losing the shape. Of course, I expect an amount of sharks at nights and awesome sawfish on net 1 so I could fix a big hole in the gillnets. Can't wait to handle baby lemons!

Rad (aka "Who Needs a Nickname When Your Name is Rad") Murphy - This will be my first PIT experience and I am very excited. I am still unsure of what to expect, but I can't wait to interact with some new born sharks! I've always liked sharks and from what I have heard, Bimini during PIT season is the place to get a ton of hands on experience. I grew up in Florida and have a love for wildlife and the ocean. I am looking forward to a hard but enjoyable month!

Joy Young-Franks - Lemons are yellow, Tigers are striped, I am hoping for some sawfish and bulls tonight. ...and at least 77 sharks.

Sean Williams - This year marks one decade since I first came to Bimini and the Sharklab. It is however, only my 2nd PIT. The first time around I was a boat captain on the busy nets for Sharkland and the North Sound, but this time around I will be spending most of my time trying to keep things running smoothly at the lab and with the boats. Perhaps not as anticipated as the lemon sharks or the rare sawfish, but I know the crews will be happy to see me each night as I deliver their dinners. Oh yeah, break my boat and I lose your dinner.

Dr. Demian (aka Pointah) Chapman - I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at The Pew Institute for Ocean Science at the University of Miami, where I primarily study the dispersal, reproduction and ecology of sharks by integrating genetic and electronic tagging technologies. I was on the staff at BBFS from 1996-1999, where I did three PIT tags (1996,1997,1998). I am now a collaborator on the PIT tag genetics research. I am particularly interested in measuring the level of spatial connection that sharks maintain with their birthplace, so that we will be able to more appropriately scale assessment and management activities for shark conservation. I am also studying the genetic characteristics of fish eaten by lemon sharks, to address whether or not sharks serve an important ecological role by eating sick fish. I am originally from New Zealand and want to say “hi” to my nieces and nephews: Connor & Regan Deere, Kate & Jessica Hanbrook and Garrett, Hannah & Kristen Abercrombie.

Mark (aka Bokke) Bond - I have been at the lab 10 months now and couldn’t resist the chance to extend my personal best chafe record by sharing in the wet extravaganza which is PIT 2008. I have drawn my enthusiastic, determined attitude from my heroes the “Afro Ninja” and the World Champion Springbok Rugby team. I am most looking forward to some intense shark action, the vast array of snacking options and of course the radio banter. I pride myself on being a morning person and look forward to thriving on little sleep but great company and plenty of sharks. I shall leave you with some very fitting words from Lil’ Wayne from which I draw inspiration for PIT 2008: “Pain is just weakness leaving the body!”

Allie Keller - This is my first time doing PIT, and I’m looking forward to many a sleepless night and never-ending gill net repairs. And as a shark enthusiast, the prospect of handling and working up hundreds of sharks over the next three weeks is naturally very exciting. I’m from Boston, and am currently studying neurobiology at Cornell University in sunny Ithaca, New York.

Andy (aka Shrew) Spickett - After following inspiration from Guy Harvey’s PHENOMENAL illustrations, the “fish” inside me couldn’t resist partaking in PIT – fest 2008. Sponsored by the energy drink giants KOOL-AID, I aim to teach and convert marine ecosystems to the joys of artificial colorings and insane amounts of sugar into an everyday diet. Best described in the words of David Attenborough, “The shrew is both nimble and one of the most highly adaptive animals in its field, the king of mammals”

Katie (aka Kat) Gledhill - This is my 3rd consequtive PIT at BBFS. All the fun, games and hard work that embodies PIT is what brings everyone back here. I'm excited to be spending it with such an awesome crew this year! I am looking forward to being a part of catching all the little baby lemon sharks in Bimini and of course collecting the all precious DNA. All my dreams will come true if we are blessed enough to catch another Sawfish!

Hollie (aka Buckets) Neibert - Hello all! Well, I’m back at the Sharklab again! This is my third stay and my very first PIT. I’m so excited!! When I’m not at the Sharklab, I spend my days (and some of my nights) working as an educator at Underwater Adventures Aquarium in the Mall of America, Minnesota.

Tami Wolstenholme - This is my first time at the lab and I am so excited for PIT! I am from one of those horrible land-locked states (Pennsylvania), so being down here, surrounded by water, some of the most amazing people ever, and mangroves teeming with juvenile sharks is definitely the way I wanted to spend my summer. So now I’m here and I’m ready for anything! Wish me luck!

Chris (aka Moscow) Crook - I’m here representing team England again in the veritable banquet of sharky goodness that is PIT 2008. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to be involved in helping out our be-teethed friends, and now that I am a fully grown adult girl, I can realize that dream once more. This is my second time here for PIT, and some of the things I’m looking forward to this year are plenty o’ sharks, perhaps a sawfish or two, and the distinct absence of the most rubbish of elasmobranchs, the “prop shark”. Have a word Tristan.

Summer Farrell - I grew up on the water. My fascination grows infinitely for the Great Mysterious sharks of the Caribbean. Sharks are AWESOME. PIT sounds crazy-cool. Bimini is my second home. I plan using my college degree to treasure hunt and explore the Caribbean.

Joris (aka Gunther) van Kessel - Being home schooled in a windmill I always dreamed about sharks and tulips. Tulips we grow in our garden, for good weather and sharks a trip is needed. So here I am returning to the Sharklab for PIT and spreading the good word from Gunther. By the end of PIT everybody will love the God himself and even the sharks will sing ´Ooooh you touch my tralala, my ding ding dong´!!!!

Eva Lauren Solomon - After graduating from The University of Toronto, with a degree in Biology, I decided to come to Sharklab for a couple of months. I arrived in January and it took not even a week for me to decide to extend my stay and to sign up for PIT. I am very excited to see and tag all the newborn lemons we will get this year!!!

Jill (aka Bean) Brooks - I have a degree in Marine Biology and Zoology from Bangor University in North Wales and am now slightly obsessed with sharks and the lab. My first visit to the lab was last summer and after hearing so many stories about how totally awesome PIT was, I had to come back for it so here I am. After seeing two lemon shark births so far this summer, I’m really excited to see the babies again!!I also cannot wait for the sandfly/mosquito/horsefly feeding fest! (And I think Gary Collins is sooooo hot!) I’m the northern representative of the small but strong Team England and I‘m not scared of horses!

Steve Kessel - "When life gives you lemons...tag them!"

Matt (aka Paparazzi) Potenski - This year I will participate in my (lucky) seventh PIT census. As usual, I will be with my usual partner in crime - my camera. Together we will try to bring the PIT experience home to web-viewers everywhere. I am particularly excited for this year, as I will accompany Doc to Tiger Beach to help in research on adult lemon sharks and hopefully get a bunch of sweet pics. Enjoy and be good!!!

Dr. Bryan (aka Ice) Franks - Five years doing a PhD………….$50,000 Medical bills related to field work (long Story)…….$5,000 Doing something I am passionate about (namely catching sharks!)…….priceless

Tristan Guttridge - Hello, my name is Tristan and I love juvenile lemons sharks. This is most likely my last PITfor a while...GUTTED!!! ps. Lemon sharks are sociallllllll...

Duncan Brake- Greetings all, I have been working at the lab here as assistant manager and videographer for close to 11 months now and it still isnt getting old. I am currently AWOL from the lab and have turned to the dark side filming dolphins or as we affectionately call them "Gay Sharks", for the feature film documentary "Na Naia, The Dolphins". I am back head first into PIT on the 16th for some hard core shark action.... Cant wait to get back in the mixer!!! Stay safe... Dunk

Jim Barley- I can’t believe I am going to be involved in PIT 2008. I am seriously excited to be a part of this project and to be working along side of some very experienced people. I look forward to the long hours of the night, and the problems that we will have to overcome. Also, I can’t forget about the fun of killing horse flies and fixing gills nets during the day. I just sincerely hope everyone prays for the health and safety of our boats! God don’t let them break down on us!

Emily Marcus - Hey guys. This year marks the third summer in a row of PIT for me and I am ready this time. Even through bugs, lack of sleep, and occasional bad weather, this project is full of the best memories thanks to all of the dedication of the people who make it.

Doc - I'm Doc and they tie boats to me. To read my bio, Click Here.