SHARK CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN
Increasingly, human activity is exerting negative impacts on shark populations. Driven by the diminishing numbers of other commercially available fish species and the Asian fin market, large numbers of sharks are now being overharvested in many parts of the world. In addition, habitat destruction and pollution are presenting added long-term problems for many sharks. Because sharks generally exhibit slow growth, late maturity, and low fecundity, they are particularly vulnerable to rapid population declines. Our Shark Conservation Campaign is addressing these issues, as well as the pervasive misinformation/lack of education about sharks in general
White Sharks in New England
Although the occurrence of white sharks is well documented in the North Atlantic, the species is relatively rare, and much of what is known about its distribution and movements is based on historical sightings data. The advent of new tagging technology coupled with the existence of white shark “hotspots” near pinniped colonies have allowed researchers to investigate the ecology of this species in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but its elusive nature in the Atlantic has hampered such studies in this region. However, the numbers of white shark sightings and white shark-pinniped predation events have been on the rise off the coast of Massachusetts in recent years and, in particular, off Cape Cod, which hosts a large growing population of gray seals. It appears that white sharks, which were thought to primarily scavenge whales in the Atlantic, are expanding their diet in response to dramatic regional increases in gray seal abundance. For the first time, Massachusetts Marine Fisheries scientists now have predictable access to white sharks in the North Atlantic and, during the last two summers, have tagged 11 white sharks with conventional, pop-up satellite, and coded acoustic tags. Some of this work was highlighted in the feature film “Jaws Comes Home," which was part of the 2011 Shark Week lineup on The Discovery Channel. Check out some of the amazing footage below!
The early findings of this research are promising in that we are starting to define the fine- and broad-scale movements of this species in this part of the world. With funding from Save Our Seas Foundation, MA Marine Fisheries researchers are expanding this early work and tagging more white sharks off Cape Cod to examine fine-scale movements, habitat use, site fidelity, and feeding behavior of this species in the western North Atlantic. FCF is supportive of these efforts and working with these scientists to educate the public about this much-maligned species.
The Shark Fin Soup Phenomenon
As top predators, sharks play a vital role in our ocean ecosystems — yet the popularity of shark fin soup threatens to decimate shark populations through the unsustainable harvesting of sharks. Read more about how scientists, conservationists, and management agencies around the globe are addressing this threat in our most recent newsletter article: The Shark Fin Soup Phenomenon.
FCF Presentation at AES Meeting
A core objective of our Shark Conservation Campaign is to promote the responsible management and conservation of elasmobranch fishes. Toward that end, FCF sponsored a symposium, along with the Save Our Seas Foundation, at the 2010 American Elasmobranch Society (AES) meeting. This well-attended symposium, entitled "The Physiological Stress Response in Elasmobranch Fishes," centered on the study of stress physiology in sharks, skates and rays and brought together experimental and applied biologists with a diversity of backgrounds spanning fisheries management, experimental physiology and animal health. The symposium culminated in an open discussion related to the current progress in the study of stress physiology in elasmobranchs. Many of the papers presented at the symposium have been submitted for formal publication and will soon appear in the journal Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology.
FCF Campaign Leader Publishes
Shark Handbook
Our own Shark Conservation Campaign Leader and noted shark researcher, Dr. Greg Skomal, has published . This handbook is written for the public and promotes the transfer of sound scientific information from the hands-on professional perspective of a shark biologist. It contains a complete listing of every known shark in existence, as well as some extinct species — over 500 species are included! Divided into two sections, the first section of the book covers shark evolution; general biology and life history; conservation, the truth about attacks; and classification. The second section lists and describes the many orders, families, and species of sharks. The photography, done by professional underwater and award-winning photographer Nick Caloyianis, is both vivid and stunning. Whether a curious observer or a true shark lover, this comprehensive handbook is both informative and fascinating.
Effects of Inshore Pollution
To focus concern on the plight of coast shark species, FCF has assisted with scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory to produce a video describing the negative impacts of inshore pollution on coastal sharks. Learn more about the long-lasting impact of human pollution on sharks and what we can do to support the shark population by viewing this informative video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDLTOZqW9hU.
CAMPAIGN CONTACTS:
Greg Skomal (FCF)
David Philipp (FCF)
Email the Shark Conservation Campaign: SC at fishconserve.org
Photo credit: Andrew Skinner