Mark Erdmann taking a genetic biopsy sample from a whale shark in Australia. Image by Burt Jones.

Mark Erdmann, Ph.D.

Shark Conservation Director

Education

Ph.D., Coral Reef Ecology, University of California, Berkeley
B.S., Biology, Duke University

Dr. Mark Erdmann wears the twin hats of Executive Director of ReShark and Shark Conservation Director of Re:wild, and is responsible for developing, managing, fundraising for and communicating Re:wild’s nascent shark conservation program and ReShark’s global coalition to rewild threatened sharks and rays through innovative approaches to breeding and conservation translocations. Prior to joining Re:wild in July 2025, Mark was Vice President of Asia-Pacific Marine Programs at Conservation International, where he worked for 20 years and played a primary role in conceptualizing and operationalizing the network of 26 MPAs that now protect the Papuan Bird’s Head Seascape in Indonesia.

Mark is a coral reef ecologist and lived and worked for 23 years in Indonesia, though he’s been based in New Zealand since 2014. Over his career he has logged >14,500 scuba dives while surveying marine biodiversity throughout the region, and has now described 217 new species of fish, mantis shrimp and corals. He has published 272 scientific articles and 6 books, including most recently the 3-volume set "Reef Fishes of the East Indies, 2nd Edition" with colleague Dr. Gerald Allen. Erdmann was awarded a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation in 2004 for his work in marine conservation education. Though his work is now focused on elasmobranch conservation and particularly the rewilding of threatened sharks and rays, his continuing research interests include reef fish taxonomy, MPA management and elasmobranch conservation and movement ecology.

Mark maintains research associate positions with the California Academy of Sciences, University of Auckland and University of Sunshine Coast, while also advising several PhD and Master’s students, and is a member of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group for the Oceania region. He is also active on the boards of local Indonesian NGOs including Thrive Conservation and Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia, and is a scientific advisor to Manta Trust and Sea Legacy.

Cover Photo Credit: Burt Jones.

Publications

  • Duffy C, Erdmann M, Finucci B, Griffiths M, Lewis R, Middlemiss K, Stewart A, Hitchmough R, Michel P (in press). Conservation status of chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays) in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 29 p.
  • Chappuis A, Hendrawan IG, Achmad MJ, Clément G, Erdmann MV, Hukom FD, Leblond J & GV Limmon (2025). First record of a living coelacanth from North Maluku, Indonesia. Scientific Reports. 15: 14074. 
  • Gomez-Buckley MC, Marron CP, Erdmann MV & LM Tornabene (2025). Species delimitation in the Eviota sigillata complex, a widely distributed group of cryptobenthic coral reef fishes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 213(2025): 108426. 
  • Greenfield DW, Erdmann MV & NK Ichida (2025). Eviota vader, a new western Pacific dwarfgoby from Papua New Guinea (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 43: 39-44. 
  • Miller IB, Fitzpatrick R, Abrantes KG, Norman B, Pierce SJ, Erdmann MV, Hoopes LA, Dudgeon C, Dunbabin MD, Dove ADM, Beaman RJ, Reynolds SD, Rohner C, Williams SM, Paton D, Lewis S & A Barnett (2025). The needle in the haystack: uncovering the first whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aggregation in the Coral Sea. Ecology and Evolution. 15: e71552. 
  • Sequeira AMM & 377 others including Erdmann MV (2025). Global tracking of marine megafauna space use reveals how to achieve conservation targets. Science. 388: 1086-1097. 
  • Setyawan E, Hasan AW, Malaiholo Y, Sianipar AB, Mambrasar R, Meekan M, Gillanders BM, D’Antonio B, Putra MIH & MV Erdmann (2025). Insights into the population demographics and residency patterns of photo-identified whale sharks Rhincodon typus in the Bird’s Head Seascape, Indonesia. Frontiers in Marine Science. 12:1607027. 
  • Setyawan E, Sianipar A, Mambrasar R, Izuan M, Hasan A, Fahmi, Mujiyanto, Ambafen O, Mofu I, Putra MIH & MV Erdmann (2025). Staying close to home: horizontal movements of satellite-tracked reef manta rays Mobula alfredi (Krefft, 1868) in the world’s largest manta sanctuary. Fishes. 10: 66. 
  • Allen GR and MV Erdmann (2024). Reef Fishes of the East Indies, 2nd Edition. Volumes 1-3. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia. 1466 pages.
  • Dudgeon CL, Ichida N, Hadfield CA, Hoopes LA, Meyer E, Neal L, & MV Erdmann (2024). Resharking leopards in Raja Ampat: a behind the scenes look at the StAR (Stegostoma tigrinum) Augmentation and Recovery project. Shark News: Newsletter of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. #9/January 2024. Pp. 46-67. 
  • Erdmann MV & CL Dudgeon (2024). Walking (epaulette) sharks. In: Jabado, R.W., A.Z.A. Morata, R., Bennett, B., Finucci, J., Elllis, S., Fowler, M., Grant, A.P.B., Martins and S., Sinclair (Eds.). The Global Status of Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras. IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Pp 2053-2066.
  • Erdmann MV, Fatzinger H, Hoopes LA, Jabado RW, Meyer E & A Sianipar (2024). ReShark: An international, collected effort to recover threatened sharks and rays around the world. Shark News: Newsletter of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. #10/September 2024. Pp. 46-59.  
  • Setyawan E, Erdmann MV, Mambrasar R, Ambafen O, Hasan A, Izuan M, Mofu I, Putra M, Sianipar A, Constantine R, Stevenson B & F Jaine (2024). Spatial connectivity of reef manta rays across the Raja Ampat Archipelago, Indonesia. Royal Society Open Science. 11: 230895. 
  • Setyawan E, Mambrasar R, Sianipar AB, Hasan AW, Putra MIH, Mofu I, Beale CS & MV Erdmann (2024). Insights into the visitations of oceanic manta rays at cleaning stations on coral reefs in the Bird’s Head Seascape, eastern Indonesia. Frontiers in Fish Science. 2:1432244. 
  • Shidqi RA, Erdmann MV, Setyawan E, Lezama-Ochoa N, Sari DR, Sianipar AB, Stewart J & D Croll (2024). Identifying spatial movements and residency of pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus) using satellite and passive acoustic telemetry to inform local conservation in central Indonesia. Frontiers in Fish Science. 2:1391062. 
  • Womersley FC, Rohner CA, Abrantes K…Erdmann MV…and 73 others (2024). Identifying priority sites for whale shark ship collision management globally. Science of the Total Environment. 
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV & CL Dudgeon (2023). Tomiyamichthys elliotensis, a new species of shrimpgoby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 40:57-69. 
  • Erdmann MV, Greenfield DW & L Tornabene (2023). Eviota taeiae, a new dwarfgoby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the Eviota guttata complex from Samoa. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 40:37-47. 
  • Goméz-Buckley MC, Gallego R, Arranz V, Halafihi T, Stone K, Erdmann MV & LM Tornabene (2023). Comparing anesthetic stations and environmental DNA sampling to determine community composition of cryptobenthic coral reef fishes of Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Coral Reefs. 
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV & NPD Pertiwi (2022). Description of three new species of damselfish belonging to the Pomacentrus philippinus group (Pomacentridae) from Melanesia and the eastern and central Indian Ocean. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology. 28 (1): 1-26.
  • Andrzejaczek S, Lucas T, Goodman M….Erdmann MV….and 168 others (2022). Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology. Science Advances. 8 (33): eabo1754.  
  • Bachman S, Kleypas J, Erdmann M & S Setyawan (2022). A global atlas of potential thermal refugia for coral reefs, generated by internal gravity waves. Frontiers in Marine Science. 9:921879. 
  • Setyawan E, Erdmann MV, Gunadharma N, Gunawan T, Hasan A, Izuan M, Kasmidi M, Lamatenggo Y, Lewis S, Maulana N, Mambrasar R, Mongdong M, Nebore A, Putra MIH, Sianipar A, Thebu K, Tuharea S & R Constantine (2022). A holistic approach to manta ray conservation in the Papuan Bird’s Head Seascape: Resounding success, ongoing challenges. Marine Policy. 137:104953. 
  • Setyawan E, Erdmann MV, Mambrasar R, Hasan AW, Sianipar AB, Constantine R, Stevenson BC & FRA Jaine (2022). Residency and use of an important nursery habitat, Raja Ampat’s Wayag Lagoon, by juvenile reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi). Frontiers in Marine Science. 9: Article 815094. 
  • Setyawan E, Stevenson BC, Erdmann MV, Hasan AW, Sianipar AB, Mofu I, Putra MIH, Izuan M, Ambafen O, Fewster RM, Aldridge-Sutton R, Mambrasar R & R Constantine (2022). Population estimates of photo-identified individuals using a modified POPAN model reveal that Raja Ampat’s reef manta rays are thriving. Frontiers in Marine Science. 9: 1014791. 
  • Setyawan E, Stevenson BC, Izuan M, Constantine R & MV Erdmann (2022). How big is that manta ray? A novel and non-invasive method for measuring reef manta rays using small drones. Drones. 6: 63. 
  • Vanderwright WJ, Dudgeon CL, Erdmann MV, Sianipar A & NK Dulvy (2022). Extinction risk and the small population paradigm in the micro-endemic radiation of epaulette sharks. In: Dellasala DA & Goldstein MI (eds): Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation, vol. 2, pp 752-762. Elsevier. 
  • Womersley FC, Humphries NE, Queiroz N, Vedor M….Erdmann MV…and 64 others (2022). Global collision-risk hotspots of marine traffic and the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (20): e2117440119. 
  • Murphy S, Farmer G, Katz L, Troeng S, Henderson H, Erdmann MV, Corrigan C, Gold B, Lavoie C, Quesada M, Cadelo MCD, Mora AGG, Nunez E, Montebon A, Meo S, Waqainabete-Tuisese S, Dutra G, Pereira R, Mongdong M & K Putra (2021). Fifteen years of lessons from the Seascape approach: a framework for improving ocean management at scale. Conservation Science and Practice. e423, 16 pp. 
  • Tornabene L, Greenfield DW & MV Erdmann (2021). A review of the Eviota zebrina complex, with descriptions of four new species (Teleostei, Gobiidae). Zookeys. 1057: 149-184. 
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV & Mongdong MU (2020). Heteroconger guttatus, a new species of garden eel (Pisces: Congridae: Heterocongrinae) from West Papua, Indonesia. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 35: 8-17. 
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV & Brooks WM (2020). Acanthoplesiops jessicae, a new species of spiny basslet (Acanthoclininae: Plesiopidae) from Papua New Guinea. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology. 26(2): 57-65.
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV & Brooks WM (2020). Vanderhorstia vandersteene, a new species of shrimpgoby (Pisces: Gobiidae) from Papua New Guinea. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 35: 65-75.
  • Conway KW, King CD, Summers AP, Kim D, Hastings PA, Moore GI, Iglesias SP, Erdmann MV, Baldwin CC, Short G, Fujiwara K, Trnski T, Voelker G & L Rüber (2020). Molecular phylogenetics of the clingfishes (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) – implications for classification. Copei. 108 (4): 886-906.
  • Dudgeon CL, Corrigan S, Yang L, Allen GR, Erdmann MV, Fahmi, Sugeha HY, White WT & GJP Naylor (2020). Walking, swimming or hitching a ride? Phylogenetics and biogeography of the walking shark genus Hemiscyllium. Marine & Freshwater Research. 
  • Lassauce H, Chateau O, Erdmann M & L Wantiez (2020). Deepest dive for reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) recorded in New Caledonia manta. PLOS One. 15(3): e0228815.  
  • Maas DL, Capriati A, Prins L, Ahmad A, Erdmann MV, Lamers M, de Leeuw CA, Putri AP, Tapilatu RF & LE Becking (2020). Recognizing peripheral ecosystems in marine protected areas: a case study of golden jellyfish lakes in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 151: 110700. 
  • Meyers MM, Francis MP, Erdmann MV, Constantine R & A Sianipar (2020). Movement patterns of whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia revealed through long-term satellite tagging. Pacific Conservation Biology. 
  • Setyawan E, Erdmann MV, Lewis SA, Mambrasar R, Hassan AW, Templeton S, Beale CS, Sianipar AB, Shidqi R, Heuschkel H, Ambafen O, Izuan M, Prasetia MF, Azizah H, Hidayat IN, Pada DN, Muljadi A, Pilkington-Vincett R, Dharmadi & F Cerutti-Pereyra (2020). Natural history of manta rays in the Bird’s Head Seascape, Indonesia, with an analysis of the demography and spatial ecology of Mobula alfredi (Elasmobranchii: Mobulidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 36: 49-83.
  • VanderWright, W.J., Allen, G.R., Derrick, D., Dudgeon, C., Erdmann, MV & Sianipar, A. 2020. Hemiscyllium galei (and H. henryi, H. freycineti, H. halmahera, H. michaeli, and H. strahani). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T195436A124542275.   
  • Winterbottom R, Burridge M, Erdmann MV, Hanner RH, Zur M, Steinke C & K Choffe (2020). The cryptic cornucopia revisited – an extended analysis of the COI gene in the gobiid fish genus Trimma (Percomorpha: Gobiiformes). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 36: 91-132.
  • Assad I, Lundquist CJ, Erdmann MV & MJ Costello (2018). Delineating priority areas for marine biodiversity conservation in the Coral Triangle. Biological Conservation. 222: 198-211.
  • Assad I, Lundquist CJ, Erdmann MV, Van Hooidonk R & MJ Costello (2018). Designating spatial priorities for marine biodiversity conservation in the Coral Triangle. Frontiers in Marine Science. 5:400. 
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV, White WT, Fahmi & CL Dudgeon (2016). Review of the bamboo shark genus Hemiscyllium (Orectolobiformes: Hemiscyllidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 23: 51-97.
  • Allen GR, Erdmann MV & NLA Yusmalinda (2016). Review of the Indo-Pacific Flasherwrasses of the genus Paracheilinus (Perciformes: Labridae) with descriptions of three new species. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 19: 18-90
  • Tornabene L, Valdez S, Erdmann M, & F Pezold (2014). Support for a "Center of Origin" in the Coral Triangle: cryptic  diversity, recent speciation, and local endemism in a diverse lineage of reef fishes (Gobiidae: Eviota). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 82: 200-210.
  • Huffard CL, Erdmann MV and T Gunawan (eds) (2012). Geographic priorities for marine biodiversity conservation in Indonesia. Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and Marine Protected Areas Governance Program. Jakarta. 105pp.
  • Huffard CL, Wilson J, Hitipeuw C, Rotinsulu C, Mangubhai S, Erdmann MV, Adnyana W, Barber P, Manuputty J, Mongdong M, Purba G, Rhodes K, and H Toha (2012). Ecosystem based management in the Bird's Head Seascape Indonesia: turning science into action. BHS Ecosystem Based Management Program: Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and World Wide Fund for Nature Indonesia. Bali, Indonesia. 40 pp.
  • Mangubhai S, Erdmann MV, Wilson JR, Huffard C, Ballamu F, Hidayat NI, Hitipeuw C, Lazuardi ME, Muhajir, Pada D, Purba G, Rotinsulu C, Rumetna L, Sumolang K, and Wen Wen. (2012). Papuan Bird's Head Seascape: emerging threats and challenges in the global center of marine biodiversity. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 64: 2279-2295.
  • Erdmann MV, Merrill PR, Mongdong M, Arsyad I, Harahap Z, Pangalila R, Elverawati R, and Baworo P. (2004). Building effective co-management systems for decentralized protected areas management in Indonesia: Bunaken National Park case study. NRM III, Jakarta, Indonesia. 147 pp.
  • Erdmann MV and Toengkagie A (2004). The Bunaken National Park joint patrol system: Lessons learned from a multistakeholder enforcement initiative. In: Jara R, Alcala A, Kenchington R, and Magpayo R (eds.) Proc 2nd International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium (ITMEMS2). Dept of Environment and Natural Resources, Quezon City, Philippines. Pp. 504-510.
  • Erdmann MV, Merrill PR, and I Arsyad (2003).  Developing a decentralized user fee system for sustainable conservation financing of Bunaken National Marine Park. Pp. 359-369 in: Building on Lessons from the Field: Protected Area Management Experiences in Southeast Asia. Quezon City, Philippines, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources. 
  • Holder MT, Erdmann MV, Wilcox TP, Caldwell RL and DM Hillis (1999). Two living species of coelacanth? Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. 96: 12616-12620.
  • Erdmann MV, Caldwell RL, and MK Moosa (1998). Indonesian “king of the sea” discovered. Nature.395: 335.
  • Erdmann MV and RB Manning (1998). Nine new stomatopod crustaceans from coral reef habitats in Indonesia and Australia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 46(2): 615-626. Jameson SC, Erdmann MV, Gibson GR, and KW Potts (1998). Development of biological criteria for coral reef ecosystem assessment. Atoll Research Bulletin, September 1998, No.450, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 102 pp.

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