The Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act has been introduced with bi-partisan support to reduce the overfishing and unsustainable trade of sharks and help curtail the practice of shark finning. The act would require that imports of shark, ray, and skate parts and products to the U.S. be permitted only from countries certified by National Oceanic […]
Samoa creates massive shark sanctuary
This week, the island nation of Samoa declared that all of its surrounding waters will be designated as a shark sanctuary. Illegal shark fishing will now be banned in the roughly 50,000 square miles surrounding the island. “We will not sit idly by while the demand for shark products robs our future generations of these […]
Shark tourism may increase conservationism
Cage diving with an apex predator such as a white shark is a high adrenaline experience, but it can also change participants’ views on shark conservation once they’re back on dry land. A new study has found that wildlife tourism has the potential to make participants enthusiastic wildlife ambassadors. The paper, Turning wildlife experiences into […]
Nina Dobrev, Oceana team up for shark conservation
Oceana announced Nina Dobrev, actress and ocean advocate, as its newest Oceana Ambassador. To mark the announcement, Oceana launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign that features Nina Dobrev and her efforts to help protect the world’s sharks. Oceana is currently advocating for legislation that would ban the sale and trade of shark fin […]
Researchers develop new system for conservation priorities
To shine light on and conserve rare shark, ray, and chimaera species (chondrichthyans), Simon Fraser University researchers have developed a fully-resolved family tree and ranked every species according to the unique evolutionary history they account for. “While we’ve all heard of white sharks and manta rays, how many of us have heard of the Colclough’s […]
Oceanic whitetip sharks added to protected species list
The National Marine Fisheries Service reclassified the oceanic whitetip shark as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The decision recognized threats from overfishing and bycatch in pelagic longline fishing gear as major reasons for drastic population declines. Today’s listing responds to a petition from Defenders of Wildlife, with support from the Center for Biological Diversity, […]
Trump’s hatred leads to spike in donations for shark conservation efforts
Recent revelations of President Donald Trump’s hatred toward sharks has led to an increase in charitable donations to organizations across the country dedicated to the conservation and protection of the apex predators. In an interview with with pornstar Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, In Touch Magazine—originally conducted in 2011 but was only published this […]
Monogamy could hinder long-term tiger shark populations
Tiger sharks appear to be genetically monogamous – and it could be putting the species at risk. University of Queensland research has found tiger sharks differ from many other sharks in that they don’t use multiple paternity as a reproductive strategy. UQ researcher Dr. Bonnie Holmes said multiple paternity occurred when a single litter of […]
Study finds fear of sharks reduced through understanding
An experiment involving more than 500 visitors to an aquarium ‘shark tunnel’ has shown the public’s fear of sharks reduces when they learn about the species by watching their behaviour. University of Sydney researchers conducted a randomised experiment in Shark Valley at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium in November 2013, by setting up iPads running survey […]
Sharks big winners at migrating species convention
Whale sharks were among the 34 migratory species that were included in a proposal by the Convention on Migratory Species, the world’s largest wildlife conference, during its recent meetings in October. Blue sharks, dusky sharks, angel sharks and guitarfish were among those receiving additional protections. The convention included representatives from 125 countries in South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, […]