Clay Creswell – Shark Bite Investigator | Marine Research Advocate | Community Educator

 Clay Creswell – Shark Bite Investigator | Marine Research Advocate | Community Educator

Clay Creswell has been a dedicated shark bite investigator for the Shark Research Institute’s Global Shark Attack File since 2004, contributing over two decades of expertise to the study of shark-human interactions along the North and South Carolina coasts. His research plays a vital role in educating the public and informing global conservation efforts. Clay has also served as a trusted source for National Geographic and Red Rock Films regarding shark attack data, and has appeared in the Nat Geo series “When Sharks Attack.” He shares SRI’s mission to ensure sharks are understood, protected, and thriving through science, education, and policy.

Clay is also aligned with Encounter NC, a coastal initiative focused on shark condition forecasting and public education. He supports their efforts to raise awareness and funding for Bull Shark research in North Carolina, while advancing the organization’s broader mission to dispel the myth of random shark encounters. Encounter NC studies environmental triggers such as salinity, nutrient upwellings, moon phases, and atmospheric pressure to help predict periods of increased shark activity along the coast—particularly in the greater Wilmington area.

Alongside his wife Terri Creswell, Clay also volunteers each summer at Burgaw’s Best After School Summer Camp, where the couple leads engaging shark and fossil education programs for children. Their interactive presentations foster a deeper understanding of marine life, encouraging young minds to explore the ocean with both curiosity and respect.

Together, the Creswells are building a legacy of education, conservation, and community outreach—empowering others to care for the ocean and its remarkable inhabitants, one encounter at a time.