Naomi Lessels, Veterinarian performing blood collection on a Tawny nurse shark (PEOPLE 2026)

Blood collection from sharks in captivity (and the wild) by trained professionals provides baseline data and a snap shot of the health status of an individual animal. Assimilating the data and collaborating across the world with similar institutions allows generation of accurate scientific data for health management and conservation. Academic work in this field requires dedication, sharing knowledge and constant development of new skills and techniques in an area of rapidly expanding knowledge. Individuals in this field are at the forefront of preservation the natural world.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.