VIDEO: Mote scientist receives Distinguished Fellow award

It may be Shark Week for seven days on the Discovery Channel, but Sarasota is the year-round home to some of the most brilliant shark scientists in the world — one of which recently received a prestigious honor.

The American Elasmobranch Society presented its Distinguished Fellow Award this month to Mote Marine Laboratory senior scientist Carl Luer, for his work studying the disease-fighting traits of sharks and rays.

The Observer video team sat down with Luer to discuss his research.