A leopard shark photo

There is an excellent photo of a leopard shark at
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417989118308762&set=a.301196429988032.69360.296546750453000&type=1&theater. "The leopard shark belongs to the Order of carpet sharks and is easily recognisable. Just like other carpet sharks, such as the wobbegong shark, the leopard shark has a flat belly, an elongated upper tail fin and its mouth in front of its small eyes. The brown leopard-like spots on its back and sides make it hard to confuse this shark with any other shark species."

Floating aquarium to house a great white shark

According to the web page found at

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-18/plans-floated-for-live-great-white-shark-attraction/4762210?section=sa , “Plans have been unveiled for a floating aquarium to house a great white shark off Port Lincoln in South Australia”.

Sharks Win in New York but Lose in Texas

"New York politicians voted last month to ban all commerce related to shark fin products. The bill now awaits the governor's signature before New York becomes the eighth U.S. state to instigate a ban. But in Texas, a similar ban was passed in the state's House of Representatives but received insufficient support to go forward for a Senate vote. Senators said that while shark finning is already against federal law, fishermen should remain able to sell any parts of sharks which are brought ashore whole. As it stands, general trade in shark fin products, whether caught in legal fashion by Texan fisheries or imported from abroad, still remains legal in that state for the time being." (Source: "Undercurrents", 16/6/13)

Shark fishing banned in New Caledonia

Shark fishing has now been banned in New Caledonia. The NC govt. has banned the practice because shark populations “are being decimated to feed growing demand for luxury goods”.  Some 100m sharks are said to be killed by humans each year, mostly just for their fins, and not one major headline about that.

A shark managed to stick its head inside a viewing cage

According to the web page found at http://tvuol.uol.com.br/assistir.htm?video=video-flagra-tubarao-avancando-contra-mergulhadores-em-jaula-04024E983166CC994326&tagIds=1793&orderBy=mais-recentes&edFilter=editorial&time=all, a shark cage diving group in South Africa was surprised when a shark managed to stick its head inside the cage that they were in. Tony Baker from Great White Shark Tours (https://www.facebook.com/Great.White.Shark.Tours?fref=ts ) said, "On the afternoon of 21st March, while divers were in the viewing cage, a young great white shark of approximately 2 ½ m in length came up to the cage and stuck its snout and head into the viewing gap for about 5 seconds. No injury to any diver or shark occurred. The cage is built to industry standards and is inspected annually by the Maritime Authority. The viewing gap was immediately reduced by approximately 10%. This incident has been reported to the Great White Protection Foundation of which we are a member. There wasn't any sloppy bait handling, just a shark that decided to rocket towards the cage for no reason!! It may have been spooked by a bigger shark below...”

FIVE MORE SHARK SPECIES NOW PROTECTED BY CITES

11^th March 2013 was a landmark moment for marine conservation, with five more shark species and manta rays all being listed on Appendix II of CITES. The five species are the oceanic white tip, porbeagle and three hammerhead species, which join the whale shark, white shark and basking shark already on Appendix II. For more on the story, visit http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/11/shark-species-greater-protection-finning .

WHALE SHARK SAFARI IN KENYA

According to the web page found at http://news.yahoo.com/kenya-whale-shark-safari-swims-controversy-115314986.html , “a new marine enclosure (in Kenya) will allow holidaymakers to snorkel with live whale sharks. Organisers of the Indian Ocean sea park say the €100 ticket price ($134 USD) will fund schemes to stop the docile fish from being wiped out. But a vocal group of conservationists says it is cruel and unnecessary to catch and exhibit animals, and wants to stop the scheme, saying it puts money before animal welfare. Organisers have dismissed critics as "over-emotional eco-zealots". The heated debate raises a question that splits conservationists: whether showcasing captive animals advances or hinders their efforts.”