JACKSONVILLE (USA)- The shark populations of the Atlantic waters of the US coast are rebounding, so say scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In the early 1990s, shark populations had declined to dangerously low levels due to overfishing and lack of a management plan. To respond, the NOAA implemented a fishery management plan for sharks and started […]
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Large shipments of shark fins are still arriving in Hong Kong on airlines and shipping lines that have made ‘No Shark Fin’ carriage ban commitments. The fins are labelled as ‘seafood’ or ‘fish’. This is the conclusion of a three-month investigation by Sea Shepherd Global, as part of their global shark defense campaign Operation Apex Harmony. Large shipments of fins Sea Shepherd saw […]
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The Belize Fisheries Department and researchers from Florida International University (FIU) confirmed the presence of a new shark species belonging to the bonnetheads type in waters off the coast of Belize last week. Yet to be named, this species, which requires healthy habitats for nursery areas such as mangroves, serves as an indicator of the state of health of Belize […]
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ESPERANCE (AUSTRALIA)- Swimming with a great white without a cage. It’s possible although quite nerve-wrecking. So Australian filmmaker Ash Gibb experienced. He felt a thump from behind and suddenly there was a great white in his picture. The shark is clearly curious and checks out the Kalgoorlie-based filmmaker who was armed with nothing more than his snorkel gear and his camera. […]
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BOURNEMOUTH (UK)- They help balance the ecosystems in the ocean, and can possibly help with a cure for cancer. Now they sharks also turn out to play an important role in preventing climate change, so say scientists of the British Bournemouth University. ‘Overfishing and shark finning may result on more greenhouse gasses and increased climate change.’ Researchers from the Department of […]
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MIAMI (USA)- An important first step was taken towards the regional protection of sharks throughout the Caribbean. At the request of the Netherlands, regional governments last week recommended eight species of sharks and rays for protection under the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol. Delegates from 14 Caribbean countries including Caribbean Netherlands (Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire), Aruba, Curaçao […]
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Good news for thresher sharks (Alopias spp), silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), and mobula rays (Mobula spp)! The Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) voted in favor of listing them in Appendix II. Species listed in Appendix II are to be closely monitored to ensure that trade does not cause the species to become threatened […]
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