Kifaet Wahid Polok is an undergraduate Marine Science student, focused on studying sharks and rays in unique marine environment. With a deep passion for marine biodiversity, Polok has spent a couple of years conducting field research on the habitat preferences, feeding behaviors, and ecological roles of elasmobranch species (sharks and rays) in this biologically rich yet fragile ecosystem and fish landing sites in Bangladesh. He is currently studying St. Martin’s Island’s habitat and feeding features to determine the species’ abundance and how the island’s seasonal environmental parameters affect the way they find shelter, reproduce, and feed. This includes efforts to implement marine protected areas (MPAs) around the island and develop community-based conservation strategies that involve local fishers in the preservation of marine resources. This work emphasizes the importance of understanding how these apex predators interact with their environment, including their role in maintaining the health of corals, seagrass and seaweed beds around St. Martin’s Island. Their research also explores the impacts of human activities, such as overfishing and habitat degradation, on the
population dynamics of sharks and rays, advocating for sustainable fishing practices and stronger marine conservation policies. He has also spent over eight months working nonstop at the Chittagong Landing Site, one of Bangladesh’s eight landing sites where the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) was conducting an assessment of the elasmobranch (shark and ray) population and their conservation. During this assignment period, he has collaborated with local communities, NGOs, and governmental agencies to promote awareness about the critical need to protect these species and their habitats. Polok is driven by a lifelong passion for the study and conservation of elasmobranchs, with the dream of deepening our understanding of these fascinating species and their vital roles in marine ecosystems.