Dr. Demian Chapman is a marine biologist and internationally recognized expert on sharks, whose research spans genetics, movement, reproduction and the global shark fin trade. He is an associate professor at Florida International University and serves as Senior Scientist and Director of the Sharks & Rays Conservation Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography and Marine Biology from Nova Southeastern University.

His work focuses on understanding shark populations and how they are affected by fishing pressure, trade and environmental change. By combining genetic analysis, tracking and fisheries data, he studies how shark populations move, reproduce and are exploited across regions, with a particular focus on areas where management is limited or complex.

His research has contributed to major conservation outcomes, including the establishment of a shark sanctuary in the Bahamas, improved management of sharks and rays in Belize, and international trade protections for multiple species under CITES. These efforts have helped shape how shark conservation is approached at both regional and global scales.

In the field, he works closely with local researchers and communities, particularly in Belize, where long-term partnerships support data collection and conservation efforts. His work also led the Global FinPrint project, a large-scale effort to assess shark populations worldwide and provide a baseline for conservation planning.

Through this work, he has helped advance the science and policy needed to protect sharks in a rapidly changing ocean, showing how research, management and international cooperation must work together to sustain these species.