Sofia Graça Aranha is a post-doctoral researcher at the Univeristy of Algarve with a PhD in Marine, Earth and Environmental Sciences and a M.Sc in Marine and Coastal Systems at the University of Algarve, and a postgraduation degree in Marine Environmental Management. Throughout her academic and professional career she have always sought her development in the marine area. During her bachelor degree, she have studied the taxonomy of shark species of the genera Squalus and Cirrhigaleus. Sofia has developed a shark conservation project called 'Shark FREE' as part of her postgraduate studies in Brazil. For her MSc she evaluated the trophic ecology and ecophysiology of seven deep-sea shark species from the southwest coast of Portugal, using a novel methodology on sharks - the RNA / DNA ratios - as well as she also evaluated their trophic ecology using stable isotope analyses (δ13C: 13C / 12C and δ15N: 15N / 14N). Recently for her PhD she continued with the work developed for her master's degree, thus, expanding the focus to deep-sea elasmobranchs and their interactions with crustacean bottom trawlers, as part of two research and technological projects which she coordinated: the DELASMOP (Deep-sea elasmobranchs of Portugal) and the EMREP (The development of electronic monitoring and reporting tools for the Portuguese fishery).
In addition, she is the co-founder of the Rio de Janeiro chapter of the renowned marine protection NGO Sea Shepherd, having dedicated years of volunteer work in coordinating marine conservation projects and activities. As a volunteer, she have also worked on great white shark research projects (such as telemetry, ID, feeding) in South Africa, as well as assisted in research on tonic immobility in small sharks of the Triakidae and Scyliorhinidae families. Sofia is a dive master and hosted two diving shows in TV that depicts endangered aquatic animals. In addition to her work with sharks, she have also worked as a marine mammal observer on board a seismic vessel in the Rio de Janeiro coast and as an environmental consultant in the private sector.
