Brendan Talwar, a postdoctoral scholar at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, has won the Netflix competition series “All the Sharks” alongside colleague Chris Malinowski from the Ocean First Institute. The pair, known as “Shark Docs,” competed against three other teams in a two-month challenge that required photographing sharks in locations such as the Maldives, Galápagos Islands, The Bahamas, South Africa, Japan and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Teams were awarded points based on the rarity of shark species photographed.
Talwar and Malinowski received $50,000 for their chosen nonprofit organizations—Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and Ocean First Institute—as well as a shark-shaped trophy.
Reflecting on his decision to participate in the show, Talwar said: “Chris and I received an email that read: ‘We are producing a global series that will feature the most biodiverse exploration of sharks that has ever been done.’ How could we say no? But, of course, we nearly did. It seemed too good to be true, and our scientific minds poked countless holes in the idea of participating. Would it help or harm our careers? Would it be worth the time we could spend publishing papers?
As my Scripps advisor, Brice Semmens, explained: Worst case—you don’t like the show but get to dive together in some of the last remaining near-pristine marine ecosystems the world can offer. Best case—the show plays a part in inspiring the next generation of marine biologists, showcases the wide diversity of sharks and rays in our oceans, and makes a global audience excited about these animals and their habitats, many of which are under increasing threat. So, we decided that the goal of the show was worth the risk, with every encounter with a shark or ray a ‘win’ for the audience.”
Talwar described filming as an intense experience with cameras capturing their work from multiple angles but noted that over time interactions became more natural: “I’ve always preferred being behind the camera—taking the group photo rather than being the focus. Upon landing in Maldives I quickly realized this was going to be the opposite experience…we barely felt like we were being filmed at all.”
One memorable moment for Talwar occurred during dives at Darwin’s Arch in Galápagos where he encountered killer whales—a long-held personal aspiration—and reflected on how these experiences reinforced his desire to connect people with ocean life.
During their travels across six sites worldwide they photographed more than 50 shark and ray species. Among his favorite encounters was seeing a leopard catshark off South Africa’s coast: “They’re truly some of the most beautiful fish in sea: gorgeous leopard-print patterns…and a fearless attitude.” Another highlight was photographing a great hammerhead shark while facing elimination off Bimini in The Bahamas.
Talwar emphasized that winning allowed him to amplify messages about ecology and conservation through broad exposure: “Our message…made final cut because we were featured in every episode. These messages were easy to miss because entertainment masked education…defining endemism in Japan…highlighting use of shark tracking data…mentioning importance of sound to draw bull sharks.”
He also discussed selecting REEF as one beneficiary due to its alignment with citizen science values: “We chose REEF because their mission of monitoring reef fishes and marine life through citizen science aligns with our deepest values. REEF empowers everyday divers to become scientists and stewards of ocean…” He noted that datasets collected by REEF volunteers have informed scientific research globally.
At Scripps’ Semmens Lab Talwar is using REEF’s data to study trends among Caribbean sharks and rays—aiding policy development such as Shark Sanctuary designations—and aims to expand this work further.
Looking ahead Talwar acknowledged funding challenges affecting regional shark research efforts amid ongoing threats like overfishing shifting toward coastal areas. He highlighted need for interdisciplinary approaches combining ecology, oceanography policy work and community engagement—areas where Scripps scientists collaborate closely with agencies including NOAA.
Talwar concluded by expressing hope that participation on “All The Sharks” would inspire future generations: “If we want people to care about ocean,” he says,“we have to tell stories that help them feel part of it.”
