The story behind recent great white shark pics appearing in multiple media outlets

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500202_162-10002779.html

Visit the web page found at http://www.thedorsalfin.com/shark-news-stories/story-behind-recent-great-white-shark-guadalupe-pics-appearing-in-multiple-media-outlets/ for the story behind recent white pointer shark photos in the media (i.e. The Advertiser 11/3/10). Underwater photographer Don Carpenter explained On "The CBS Early Show" that this great white shark wasn't attacking the cage at all, rather that it was being "wrangled" to help the photographer achieve the best photo angle. Photos can also be viewed at http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500202_162-10002779.html. Further details can be found at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/12/earlyshow/living/petplanet/main6292577.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentAux.

Black tip reef shark

Photo courtesy of Kydd Pollock/Marine Photobank

Here is a photo of a Black tip Reef Shark cruising the shallow reefs of a tropical lagoon. According to Kyd Pollock, this would be a far more frequent sight if a worldwide shark finning ban could be established.

CITES meeting to discuss international protection for 8 species of shark

CITES is meeting this week (on March 13th) to discuss whether 8 species of shark will receive international protection.

Recent research re status of white pointers

White Pointer Sharks may be more endangered than previously thought according to recent research reported at http://observationsofanerd.blogspot.com/2010/02/plight-of-great-white.html

Dorsal Fin website

The Dorsal Fin website at http://www.thedorsalfin.com/is a good source of information on all shark matters. The Dorsal Fin provides news and information about sharks with the intent to promote awareness and responsible conservation. A video of the recent shark tank which sprung a leak at a mall in Dubai can be viewed at http://www.thedorsalfin.com/shark-news-stories/dubai-mall-aquarium-springs-a-leak/

Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations attacked by sharks

AIMS scientists developed Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) in order to monitor vast areas inaccessible to research divers. BRUVS consist of tourist-grade “HandiCam” video cameras in simple underwater housings made of PVC sewer pipe and acrylic, with a canister of minced pilchards on the end of a bait arm in the field of view. The housings are held in steel frames, and are deployed in strings of 4-6 under separate ropes and floats, to be picked up after one or two hours filming at the seabed. BRUVS have been used by AIMS to compare shark populations at Scott Reef with an unfished Commonwealth marine reserve. BRUVS revealed a marked difference in the abundance of sharks at Scott Reef and the protected area. The number of sightings in the video recordings indicated that sharks were on average 4-17 times more abundant in the reserve. This result was reinforced when the time it took for sharks to appear in each video was analysed and on Scott Reef was, on average, twice that in the reserve. Details can be found at http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/research/monitoring/seabed/video-monitoring.html. Video footage of a hammer head sharks & a tiger shark feeding on a bait cannister can be viewed at http://www.aims.gov.au/movies/web-sharks.mpg.

Shark mothers provide critical life support for newborn pups

According to a new study, live-bearing sharks are not the cold-hearted mothers (or parents) that they have been made out to be. The study shows that sharks provide substantial post-partum investment in their young. Visit http://www3.aims.gov.au/docs/publications/waypoint/015/headlines-02.html for further details.