Shark Man - One man’s mission to save our most feared and misunderstood predator

Riley Elliott

The adventures of a shark scientist and his mission to change our perception of sharks in New Zealand.

Random House

7 November 2014

Paperback-RRP $39.99

Also available as an ebook

Riley Elliott is a surfer, spear-fisherman and shark scientist from the Waikato, currently writing a PhD at Auckland University. He’s also on a mission to share his fascination with sharks, raise the profile of their dwindling numbers and question the legitimacy of shark-finning in our waters.

Riley’s passion for sharks started while he was working at the Oceans Research Great White Shark Station in South Africa, where he learned to free-dive with sharks beyond the cage. Upon his return to New Zealand, Riley began research for his PhD, and as a result uncovered some alarming trends.

Riley Elliott is making it his mission to educate New Zealanders about the over-exploitation of sharks in our waters, particularly the controversial practice of shark-finning, and how it affects the ocean ecosystem. In the process he’s becoming New Zealand’s most popular expert on shark species, and a go-to commentator about our increasing encounters with this deadly ocean predator.

Shark Man is Riley’s story, from his time learning to scuba dive and spearfish, his early fascination with sharks while surfing at Raglan, his first encounters with great whites in South Africa and learning to safely free-dive to study New Zealand sharks species, as well as the making of the TVNZ television documentary series ‘Shark Man’.

The book also has information about New Zealand’s prevalent shark species – where they live, how they hunt, and their interaction with humans. Providing a fascinating insight into these incredible creatures, Shark Man will appeal to anyone with a love of the ocean and the adventures it holds. Join Riley on his journey to discover what lies beneath the surface, and his mission to change our perception of this most feared predator.

About the author:

Riley Elliott has a BSc Honours in Zoology and a Masters with distinction in Marine Science. He is currently writing his PhD in New Zealand sharks at Auckland University. Elliott regularly free-dives with sharks to observe them in the water, and has become a popular commentator on shark encounters and attacks in New Zealand waters.

‘Shark Man’, a TVNZ television documentary series featuring Riley, will air on TV One late November.