CHRIS FISCHER, Expedition Leader / Exec. Producer
Chris is an expert angler, spokesman for responsible fisheries management and former host of ESPN2’s “Offshore Adventures” — one of the most-watched outdoor shows in America in the early 2000s. For “Expedition Great White,” he is also executive producer. Fischer’s multi-vessel mothership operation is aimed at ongoing oceanic expedition to help promote sustainable fisheries management and ocean research and education.
MICHAEL DOMEIER, Lead Scientist
Dr. Domeier (“the Doc”) is one of the world’s foremost experts on great whites and has led the field of electronic tagging, designing the most advanced long term tracking devices ever made. He is president and executive director of the Marine Conservation Science Institute. He formerly headed the California Department of Fish and Game’s Marine Sport Research Project and founded the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research where he served as President for 11 years.
BRETT MCBRIDE, Captain
Brett is caption of MV Ocean. He began working on fishing boats at age 12 and went on to work on day-charter boats, long-range charter boats, and long-range private yachts. Over the past 14 years, he has fished from Alaska to Central America as a leading member of ESPN2’s “Offshore Adventures” and in the past 7 years, has won or placed in numerous billfishing tournaments.
JODY WHITWORTH, Second Captain
Jody has been fishing for 22 years ― most recently on ships over 100 feet long ― and has traveled by sea to over 30 countries around the world. He got involved in this expedition to learn more about the Great White, and got face to face with a 4,000 plus pound great white, which became one of his greatest experiences ever.
PAUL WALKER, Deckhand
A leading actor in movie blockbusters such as Fast and Furious, Paul served as a deckhand for this major research project and helped the crew with various activities ― from scrubbing the decks to lifting sharks to the platform and tagging them ― and quickly earned their respect. His idol was Jacques Cousteau, and his passion for the ocean led him to study marine biology.
CHAD KIESEL, First Mate
An Alaskan native that grew up fishing in the state’s harsh, cold waters, Chad earned his captain’s license at age 19. After finishing his B.A. in Justice Studies, he moved to San Diego and starting fishing with various boats. He joined the MV Ocean crew in December 2008 as first mate, and hopes to become a true outdoor adventurer.
DAVE OLSON, Chef / Underwater Photographer
Dave is a classically trained chef with years of restaurant experience and recipes published in Gourmet magazine. But his love of the ocean propelled him into also diving and photographing ocean creatures. His most shocking encounter for this expedition was filming underwater video of a shark “with chomping jaws coming right at me.” He held his ground to get the shot.
DAVE “WHITEY” EVANS, Deckhand
A commercial whitewater guide for over twenty five years, Whitey now runs 12-day expeditions in the Canadian Arctic, and in the Fall, runs a fishing lodge in British Columbia. Whitey worked beside Dr. Domeier during the expeditions, attaching GPS tags to the dorsal fin of the shark.
BRANDON EYRE, Deckhand / Research Assistant / Camera Operator
Brandon studied marine biology at the University of the Virgin Islands, taking part in oceanographic studies with NOAA and coral/fish propagation studies on Caribbean reefs. Over six years, he worked for several aquariums and aquatic wholesalers and later become Curator of Animals for The Living Planet Aquarium in Utah. He joined the team originally as a marine animal consultant.