Trade of shark fins now banned in California

Great News! According to http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=preview_message&fn=Link&t=1&ssid=10832&id=4uk01u1t70l6577p37a96u69v15ml&id2=je52z0xvsu88iz4ilvlvbfd0r4x0c&subscriber_id=btzjiicfycbfwwujgzcivjfntoblbae&messageversion_id=adbdxjrpcmawryrjqhqqgfpoltjmbjd&delivery_id=bjwyaegoapumwogulaskjkfwkvbibmn&tid=3.KlA.BAvueA.CHIg.LT_i..RB_0.b..s.rvk.a.To-TGA.To-TGA.VOtcFw

Gov. Jerry Brown has now signed into law AB 376, the Aquarium-sponsored bill that bans the trade of shark fins in California. This is a huge step for shark conservation, as it helps end the economic incentive that drives the killing of millions of sharks worldwide for their fins each year. The shark fin trade is now illegal in five Western states and territories—including California. We can now encourage the US & other countries around the world to end the global shark fin trade.

White pointer in Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a 1.2m-long white pointer shark in its Open Sea exhibit. It was caught in the waters off California. They hope to keep it on display for several months. It may be seen on web cam at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_opensea/open_sea_cam.aspx
(5 young sharks have previously been kept in the aquarium before being returned to the wild.) "The Open Sea exhibit is a mysterious, mesmerizing world where life looms large. The stunning one-million-gallon exhibit is home to one of the most diverse communities of open-ocean animals to be found in any aquarium. Giant bluefin tuna power their way through the water, while hammerhead sharks, pelagic rays and giant green sea turtles swim just inches away."

Grey nurse sharks on the come back list

Tony Isaacson reported on Facebook that he had recently managed 2- 4 dives in the Solitary Islands/SW Rocks area and had seen more Grey Nurse Sharks than in his previous 40 years of diving. "This is a paradise for divers. Definitely on the come back again list." he said.

GREAT WHITE SHARK CAGE DIVING

(PRESENTATION OF CSIRO & SARDI RESEARCH FINDINGS & POLICY UPDATE)

During 2009-2011, DENR & PIRSA have undertaken a joint review of the Great White Shark Cage Diving (GWSCD) activity at the Neptune Islands Conservation Park, near Port Lincoln. In February, information sessions were held to present the draft review findings to stakeholders and comments were sought from stakeholders and interested parties on the document. Finalisation of the review findings and subsequent GWSCD policy has been delayed pending the outcomes of a CSIRO research study looking at the effects of berley on shark behaviour at the Neptune Islands.

In September, Barry Bruce from the CSIRO in Hobart and Charlie Huveneers from SARDI - Aquatic Sciences in Adelaide will present their research findings to industry and other stakeholders. This will be followed by discussion on the research findings and how they might influence an SA Government policy position on GWSCD.

Barry Bruce will present the results of the recently completed project "The effects of berley on the distribution and behaviour of white sharks at the Neptune Islands, South Australia". The project examined the residency, distribution and behaviour of acoustic-tagged sharks at both North and South Neptune Islands from 2009 - 2011. These data were compared to similar data collected by CSIRO in 2001-2003 to assess evidence for changed behaviour in sharks over the period between the two studies. The final report from the project will be circulated prior to the workshops.

Adelaide Meeting: Thursday 29 September 2011 - 12noon - 5.30pm (light lunch and afternoon tea provided). CSIRO Conference Room, Soil and Water Environs Centre, Waite Road, Urrbrae (Entry 4). A map can be found at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/campuses/mapscurrent/waite.pdf. Parking may be limited near the building. The Mulyungerie Carpark at the south of the campus generally has plenty of parking. There is non-time limited street parking a short distance along Claremont Avenue.

Port Lincoln Meeting: Friday 30 September 2011 - 10am - 3.30pm (morning tea and light lunch provided). Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board Office, 23 Napoleon Street, Port Lincoln.

The agenda will be circulated before the events. (Please note that the information presented at the two meetings will be identical). Please register your interest in attending a meeting to Leah.McIntyre@sa.gov.au or telephone: 08 8463 4809.

GREAT WHITE JUMPS INTO RESEARCH BOAT IN SOUTH AFRICA

The web page found at http://www.perthnow.com.au/great-white-shark-jumps-into-research-boat-in-south-africa/story-fn6cmyjj-1226099134745= shows the moment after a 3m great white shark leapt on board a marine science vessel, leaving scientists with the rather delicate challenge of not only keeping it alive, but getting it off board. “A great white shark leapt metres into the air and onto a marine science vessel, leaving the crew to face the angry, thrashing specimen as it tried to stay alive. Six members of Oceans Research organisation were collecting data on sharks in Mossel Bay, 388km west of Cape Town, when the 3m shark leaped out of the water and landed on the boat's fuel and bait storage containers.”

NECROPSY BY MIAMI UNI SCIENTISTS ON BEACHED LEMON SHARK

When a 7-foot lemon shark beached itself on Virginia Key, Florida, the turtle nest observers that found her there called in a team of scientists from the University of Miami's RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program. Dunlap program director Dr. Neil Hammerschlag decided to film the necropsy to use as a teaching tool. Check out the video at http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=11011 to learn more about shark anatomy and the process that scientists use to determine the causes of death in marine life.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS LOVE THE MUSIC OF AC/DC

Great white sharks love the music of rock
band AC/DC. Visit http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/great-whites-sharks-love-the-music-of-acdc/story-e6freuzi-1226085938682
for more details. Then there’s http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/were-your-biggest-fins-great-white-sharks-love-acdc/story-fn6b3v4f-1226067418494
and several more.

(I know that it's been some time between blogs, but its due to having been unable to post to my site rather than a lack of things to blog about.)

7 baby stingrays born in London Aquarium have no father(s)

Two female stingrays in the Sea Life London aquarium gave birth to 7 babies despite not having been near a male stingray for 2 years.

Shark articles published recently

My blogging has been quiet as of late, mostly due to my 'newsletter interests'. I am editor for several newsletters such as the MLSSA Newsletter (& Journal), the SDF news sheet & bulletin and The Gangway Bulletin for Stella Maris Adelaide. I can now report, however, that a couple of 'shark' articles appear in the July issue of the MLSSA Newsletter, as follows: -

“Steve's SharkShield Stories” and “”Cousteau Society's Shark Study in SA Over 20 Years Ago” - see http://www.mlssa.asn.au/cgi-bin/Newsletters.cgi?year=2011&nl=MLSSA_NL_383_July_2011.htm

World record shark caught & released

During May, a team from National Geographic captured a large white pointer. The Shark Men crew claimed a record for the largest white pointer to be caught. The 17'9", 4225 lb shark was released afterwards. Details were featured on the last episode of Shark Men on the Discovery Channel on 11th June.

The world road toll is huge

The WHO says that something like 1.2m people are killed on roads around the world each year. Over 1000 young people are killed on the roads every day. 20-50m people are also injured on the roads each year. Yet people always say to me, "There are too many dangerous sharks in the water for me. Aren't you scared that you might get killed by one?" My reply is often something like, "Do you drive to work?"

Mako shark & eagle ray that jumped into boats

"A Texas fisherman got the fright of his life when a 2.5m shark jumped into the back of his boat without warning. Jason Kresse, 29, was dumping fish guts over the side of his boat about 80km offshore when the shark jumped aboard, the Associated Press reports. The 170kg mako shark thrashed violently aboard the 7.5m boat as Mr Kresse and his crewmates tried and failed to get the giant animal back overboard about 3.45am on Monday, local time. "All of a sudden something hit the side of the boat," he said. "He ends up landing on the back of the boat." The shark died several hours later, damaging the boat in its struggle to escape. Mr Kresse needed to get a forklift to get the animal off the boat. It is now on display at a seafood business in Mr Kresse's hometown of Freeport." (Source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8230852/shark-leaps-into-fishermans-boat?cmp=nl_news_31march2011_7&mch=newsletter ) Video footage can be seen at http://tracking.msadcenter.msn.com/cegnngia_nruobodrnh.html . It includes further footage of an eagle ray that jumped in to a boat.

Great White Shark needs more protection - not less

The Humane Society International has expressed its alarm over calls to cull white pointer sharks in Australia following the recent death of diver Peter Clarkson. Clarkson was killed in waters off Pt Lincoln, South Australia. As a professional diver, Clarkson would have logged 1000s of hours underwater, and only once before had he reported an encounter with a white pointer shark.

(Source: http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/2381-great-white-shark-needs-more-protection-not-less )

BOOK WRITTEN BY SHARK VICTIM

Shark victim Peter Clarkson co-authored the book “Australia's Spectacular Cowries: A Review and Field Study of Two Endemic Genera--Zoila and Umbilia” with Barry Wilson. Peter also took 100s of the photos in the hardcover book (1^st edition 2004), including the one on the front cover. The book is expensive (at more than $100), but some of it can be read online at http://www.amazon.com/Australias-Spectacular-Cowries-Endemic-Genera-Zoila/dp/0966172027#reader_0966172027 . It includes taxonomic indexes to both cowries and sponges.

White pointer shark video

There is a funny tribute to white pointer sharks as a critical link in the food chain of the sea

at http://deepseanews.com/2011/02/sea-lions-sing-tribute-to-the-great-white-shark/

SHARK EXHIBITION ENDING SOON

The free exhibition “Planet Shark - Predator or Prey” at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney is now scheduled to end on 6th March 2011. Visit http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1821 or www.planetshark.org

Mako attack on captured marlin

The story regarding a mako shark attacking a captured marlin off of Pt Stephens, NSW which was on page 1 of The Advertiser 11/2/11 also featured on Channel 9 TV's "A Current Affair" that same night. Video footage of the incident can be found at http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/video/#c1a0f289-fc9b-454f-b73a-de13706f6e55 .

INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR THE GREAT WHITE SHARK CAGE DIVING REVIEW

During 2009-2010 DENR and PIRSA have undertaken a joint review of the Great White Shark Cage Diving (GWSCD) activity at the Neptune Islands Conservation Park, near Port Lincoln. The objective of the Review has been to establish a whole-of-Government management strategy and policy for GWSCD within South Australia that is efficiently managed, facilitates the development of sustainable environmental tourism businesses (GWSCD tours), is environmentally sustainable (for species and natural environment) and has public confidence (in terms of shark attack threats). DENR and PIRSA are seeking comments from stakeholders and interested parties on the document prior to its finalisation. To assist you in better understanding the Review process and the Review findings/recommendations, 2 information sessions are being held, one in Adelaide and the other in Port Lincoln. Current GWSCD operators, persons interested in conducting future GWSCD tours and other users of the Neptune Islands Conservation Park, including commercial and recreational fishing interests, and any other interested parties are encouraged to attend an information session. Please register your interest in attending a meeting as soon as possible and no later than Friday 4th February 2011.

Adelaide Meeting - Thursday 10 February 2011 9.15am - 12.15pm Conference Room, Level 1, 100 Pirie Street Adelaide. Morning tea provided

Port Lincoln Meeting - Thursday 17 February 2011 12.30pm - 3.30pm EP NRM office, 23 Napoleon Street, Port Lincoln. Afternoon tea provided

Written comments can be submitted at any time via email to martina.egeler@sa.gov.au or posted to:

Great White Shark Cage Diving Review

Attention: Martina Egeler

GPO Box 1047

ADELAIDE SA 5001

The closing date for written submissions is COB Friday 18 March 2011.

If you have any questions regarding this process please feel free to contact me.

Regards

Martina Egeler
__________________________________________________

Policy and Planning Officer, Commercial Development
Information Delivery
Client Services
T: 08 8124 4799
F: 08 8124 4789
E: martina.egeler@sa.gov.au

Sharks may be colour blind

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Australian researchers say sharks may be colour blind. This challenges the long-held belief that they were mainly attracted to the colour yellow.Visit http://abcmail.net.au/t/1256185/1500402/23789/0/ for further details.

SHARK TRACKING SYSTEM

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Dr Charlie Huveneers has developed a shark tracking system. More than 6 white pointer sharks have been micro-chipped and 40 receivers are in place on the South Australian coast. There are many more receivers interstate and overseas. 10 more are to be placed in SA shortly.

Alexius' shark cage dive

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Congratulations to Alexius Sutandio who finally got to do a shark cage dive and see a 4m white pointer. Although he only got to see the one (small?) male shark, Alexius was thrilled to finally get some close-up shots of one. It all happened at North Neptune Island. Alexius couldn’t wait to post photos and video footage on his Facebook page. This meant that I could (sort of) experience it all for myself.

SA SUMMER SHARK PATROLS

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

There are helicopter shark patrols on SA metropolitan beaches on weekends and public holidays. Plane patrols are also operating between North Haven & Rapid Bay between 11am & 8pm each weekday until April.

Dream jobs

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Jennifer Taylor wrote the first report about Strappy the white pointer shark in the December issue of Dive Log. Jennifer came to Australia from Scotland two years ago. She now works as a shark personality profiler (my dream job) at Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions. There was a large photo of Jennifer video filming a white pointer shark from close quarters (from within a cage) in The Advertiser in January. Jennifer was getting right in to her shark profiling job at North Neptune. She shares her passion with Dr Rachel Robbins from England. Rachel is the chief scientist at the Rodney Fox Shark Foundation.

UNSUSTAINABLE SHARK FISHERY TARGETS FINS FOR EXPORTS

(Photo source: http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news)

According to the web page found at http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/1633-unsustainable-shark-fishery-targets-fins-for-exports , "Approval has been given to a shark fishery in NSW for operating in an ecologically sustainable manner, despite scientific advice that there is a lack of knowledge of the shark populations involved as well as a lack of even basic reliable data on historical catch. Despite this, the Minister has approved a quota far in excess of the historical average."

GREY NURSE SHARK CONSERVATION EFFORTS THREATENED BY SHARK NETS

Shark caught in protective net (Source: http://www.ecovoice.com.au/econews )

According to the web page found at http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/1620-grey-nurse-shark-conservation-efforts-threatened-by-shark-nets , "The Humane Society International has repeated its call for the shark nets on NSW's coast to be removed following the death of a critically endangered grey nurse shark in the nets off Bondi Beach."

White Shark Projects, Gansbaai, South Africa

Great White Shark (courtesy of Andy Stephney, White Shark Projects)

Andy Stephney is currently working for White Shark Projects, at Gansbaai, South Africa. He says that “8 companies here operate great white shark tours to Dyer Island (approx 30 mins. boat ride to dive site). Here we can see, on average, 4 to 5 individual great whites approach the boat. Our best months are the winter months – May, June, July & August). Sharks at this time are an average 2 to 3 metres, sometimes lucky to see 4 metre (ones). The sharks that we see are still young sharks, and I believe, due to the sizes of sharks and light bite marks from other sharks near gills or fins, that the great whites mate and give birth here. Once the sharks of a few years mature, then they migrate from our area, with only a handful returning over the coming years (see Nicole The Great White Shark SA web site at http://www.whitesharktrust.org/migration/main.html). I also believe the great whites are caught by fisherman (trawler nets, etc..). Instead of bringing in bodies of sharks for research, they cut off fins and remove teeth for the black markets, namely Asia (for shark fin soup) and dump the carcass. Here are some face book pages (and websites) for update photos: –

White Shark Projects Cage Dive Fans - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=23911738980

Marine Dynamics - http://www.sharkwatchsa.com/index.php

Dyer Island Cruises - http://www.dyer-island-cruises.co.za/

Sharkdiving Unlimited Gansbaai - http://www.sharkdivingunlimited.com/

Apex Shark Expeditions - http://www.apexpredators.com/

The lists are updated (with great photos) on a daily basis.”