Oink Design

Oink Design Sterling silver jewellery handmade by me in my little workshop on my Narrowboat in Cambridgeshire.
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I've come to one conclusion...There are so many confused sharks out there having a full-blown identity crisis. But never...
26/07/2026

I've come to one conclusion...

There are so many confused sharks out there having a full-blown identity crisis.

But never fear... the real heroes in rash vests and shorts at the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation are here to help!

Every day, the incredible team studies these misunderstood sharks, helping us learn more about their behaviour, ecology and the vital role they play in keeping our oceans healthy. The more we understand them, the better we can protect them.

A HUGE thank you to for all of the incredible photos that he has allowed me to use—you are an absolute 🌟. And a special thank you to for capturing the photo from the last day of my very first trip to the Shark Lab. It will always be one of my favourites.

Dont forget, every piece from my Bimini Collection does more than celebrate sharks—it helps protect them.

At the end of each year, a percentage of every Bimini Collection sale is donated to the , helping support the incredible research and conservation work they do.

So every necklace, pair of earrings and pendant isn't just ocean-inspired jewellery... it's a small contribution to a much bigger mission.

The Lemon Shark would like to clear up a common misunderstanding.It is not a lemon.It is not a fruit.It does not belong ...
25/07/2026

The Lemon Shark would like to clear up a common misunderstanding.

It is not a lemon.

It is not a fruit.
It does not belong in your gin and tonic.
And it definitely won't improve your pancakes.

The name comes from its beautiful yellowish-brown colouring, which helps it blend into sandy seabeds and shallow coastal waters.

Could they have called it the "Golden Shark" instead?

Probably.

Would we all be craving lemonade every time we heard its name?

Absolutely not.

Science: 5
Naming department: Apparently hungry when this one was named.

Picture courtesy of

The Tiger Shark would like to make one thing perfectly clear.It is not a tiger.No stripes made of orange fur.No roaring....
24/07/2026

The Tiger Shark would like to make one thing perfectly clear.

It is not a tiger.

No stripes made of orange fur.
No roaring.
No prowling through the jungle.
And it's surprisingly rubbish at climbing trees.

The name comes from the dark vertical stripes along its body, especially when it's young. As they mature, the stripes often fade—but the name sticks around anyway.

Could they have called it the "Stripy Shark" instead?

Probably.

Would it sound nearly as impressive?

Absolutely not.

Science: 4
Naming department: Still making this up as they go.

Picture courtesy of

The Bull Shark has entered the chat—and it has a very strong opinion about its job title.It is not a bull.It does not at...
23/07/2026

The Bull Shark has entered the chat—and it has a very strong opinion about its job title.

It is not a bull.

It does not attend rodeos.
It does not charge at red flags (emotionally or otherwise).
And it has absolutely no interest in farmyard politics.

The name “bull” likely comes from a combination of its stocky build, blunt snout, and famously… confident personality in shallow, murky waters where it absolutely refuses to ask for directions.

It’s also one of the few sharks that can tolerate fresh water, meaning it occasionally shows up places it was not invited—like rivers—just to keep things interesting.

So in summary:

Name: Bull Shark
Job: Confusingly versatile apex predator
Energy: “I go where I want, actually.”

Once again, naming department:
Please submit your resignation letter in bite-sized pieces.

Science: 3
Common names: still making things up

Breaking news from the ocean HR department (continued):The Hammerhead Shark would like to clarify yet another unfortunat...
22/07/2026

Breaking news from the ocean HR department (continued):

The Hammerhead Shark would like to clarify yet another unfortunate job title situation:

It is not a hammer.

It does not build anything.
It is not available for DIY projects.
It has never once assembled flat-pack furniture.

The iconic “hammer” shape is actually called a cephalofoil—a wide, flattened head that helps with better vision, depth perception, and detecting prey hidden in the sand.

So in reality, it’s less “toolbox energy” and more “precision ocean sensor system.”

Once again, naming department:
We need to talk. 🦈

Science: 2
Confusing common names: still undefeated

Real hammerhead shark picture courtesy of

Pictionary.... what shark is it..... Breaking news from the ocean HR department:The Nurse Shark would like to formally c...
21/07/2026

Pictionary.... what shark is it.....

Breaking news from the ocean HR department:

The Nurse Shark would like to formally clarify something:

It is not a nurse.

No shifts.
No scrubs.
No checking anyone’s temperature.

Just vibes… and occasionally lying very politely on the seabed looking like it’s absolutely not about to inhale a crab whole.

The name actually comes from an old word “nusse” (or “nurse”) meaning a kind of sucking sound—referring to how they feed.

So yes, once again:
Science 1 — Naming things sensibly: still a work in progress.

And yes I do love hanging out in the shallows with these puppy dogs, whoops sharks i mean not puppies.....

Breaking news...There are apparently 150+ shades of white.But not a single one is called Great White.We've got Frost Whi...
20/07/2026

Breaking news...

There are apparently 150+ shades of white.

But not a single one is called Great White.

We've got Frost White, Antique White, Bone White, Pearl White... even Ghost White.

But apparently "Great White" didn't make the cut. Honestly, what are the paint companies even doing? The disrespect is real.

Luckily, the ocean already claimed the best and ultimate white of them all. The Great White Shark isn't just iconic—its famous colouring isn't just for looking impressive—it's brilliant camouflage, making it harder to spot whether you're looking up from the depths or down from the surface.

So until someone releases Great White™, we'll stick to admiring the original.

(The shark, not the paint, even though some shades are simply legendary. )

But if any paint companies are reading this, I've got your next colour name sorted.

Until then, I'll keep celebrating the only Great White that really matters 'Bruce' —the incredible shark that has been perfecting its look for millions of years. I do love their smiles when they say hi.

SHARK WEEK HAS ARRIVED.Shark Week is basically the ocean’s annual reminder that sharks are not the villains of the sea… ...
19/07/2026

SHARK WEEK HAS ARRIVED.

Shark Week is basically the ocean’s annual reminder that sharks are not the villains of the sea… they’re actually essential, misunderstood, and way more interesting than culture gives them credit for.

Here’s what it’s really about:

It’s a week of shark-focused documentaries and programming that shines a light on different shark species and behaviours
It aims to replace fear with facts (and maybe reduce the dramatic Jaws soundtrack in our heads)
It highlights how sharks keep marine ecosystems healthy by sitting at the top of the food chain
It also draws attention to threats like overfishing, bycatch, and habitat loss
And increasingly, it supports conservation, research, and protection efforts around the world.

The takeaway? Sharks aren’t out to get us… they’re busy keeping the oceans balanced, healthy, and functioning properly.

Basically: they’re less “movie monster” and more “underwater ecosystem manager with attitude.”

Why is coral bleaching bad?Coral bleaching isn’t just coral “going a bit pale”… it’s coral getting seriously stressed ou...
18/07/2026

Why is coral bleaching bad?

Coral bleaching isn’t just coral “going a bit pale”… it’s coral getting seriously stressed out and kicking out the tiny algae that live inside it (their main food source and colour supplier).

Think of coral and algae as the ultimate flatmates:

Coral provides the home
Algae pays the rent in energy (via photosynthesis)
Everyone wins

But when ocean temperatures rise, coral gets stressed and evicts the algae… which means:
Coral turns white (“bleached”)
It loses a major food source
It becomes weak, vulnerable, and more likely to die

And here’s the big problem: bleached coral doesn’t just affect coral—it affects everything.

Reefs are home, nursery, and supermarket for around a quarter of all marine life. So when coral struggles, entire ecosystems feel it… fish, turtles, sharks, and coastal communities included.

So yes, bleaching is basically the coral version of:
“Sorry, I can’t function properly anymore because my entire support system has left.”

The good news? If conditions improve quickly enough, coral can recover. But repeated bleaching events make recovery much harder.

In short: bleached coral = stressed coral = struggling ocean neighbourhood.

A visit to Mote Marine Laboratory’s coral nurseries… and honestly, I’m still not over itThe last time I visited the Bimi...
17/07/2026

A visit to Mote Marine Laboratory’s coral nurseries… and honestly, I’m still not over it

The last time I visited the Bimini Shark Lab I had the chance to visit the coral nurseries first at Mote Marine Laboratory and it was one of those “wow, humans can actually be amazing” moments.

Picture rows of underwater coral fragments carefully grown and tended like a giant ocean greenhouse… except instead of tomatoes, it’s the future of entire reef ecosystems.

Coral nurseries are basically staging areas for reef restoration—tiny coral pieces are grown until they’re strong enough to be transplanted back onto damaged reefs. It’s part science lab, part underwater nursery, part hope factory.

And the best bit? Watching something so fragile being given a second chance. Coral might look delicate, but it’s also stubbornly determined to survive.

Massive respect to the teams and volunteers working on reef restoration. It’s meticulous, patient work—and honestly feels like one of the most important jobs in the ocean right now.

Seeing it up close makes you realise coral isn’t just “pretty ocean scenery”… it’s architecture, habitat, and life support for a quarter of all marine species.

So yes, I went to see coral nurseries and came back emotionally attached to tiny underwater twigs.

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