Oceana has released a shark-conservation themed PSA featuring actress January Jones swimming alongside a whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The PSA was filmed at the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve off of southern Belize.
Jones stars in the television series “Mad Men” and can be seen in the upcoming film “X-Men: First Class,” in which she will portray Emma Frost. This is the second “Scared for Sharks” PSA that Jones has participated in with Oceana.
Florida’s ABC-7 reports that Fort Myers Beach shrimpers saying they’re seeing more sharks than usual this season. Roger Schmall says that he’s never seen anything like what he’s experiencing this season throughout his 30 year career in the shrimp business. Schmall says that blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) and bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are feeding on his catches and causing damage to his shrimp nets.
Dr. Darren Rumbold says that no research is being conducted to determine whether the shark populations in the area are changing. Rumbold went on to say that it would be worthwhile to study due to the impacts of apex predators on the marine ecosystems.
FischerProductions has recently posted the above video, in which Dr. Michael Domeier disputes the theory that great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) descended from the prehistoric C. megalodon. Domeier says that the latest theory is that white sharks likely descended from mako sharks (genus Isurus).
It is noted that mako sharks were originally ruled out as descendants of white sharks due to modern mako sharks having non-serrated, smooth teeth. The discovery of serrations on the teeth of prehistoric mako sharks brought them into consideration as descendants of white sharks, but it is not specifically explained how this ruled out the C. megalodon as a potential descendant of the white shark.
A more detailed comparison of the two schools of thought on C. megalodon can be found at ElsmoResearch’s Carcharodon versus Carcharocles:
What’s in a Name?
From National Geographic:
The Shark Men are once again in unfamiliar territory; the Sea of Cortez. This time they have a different agenda; they are chasing Amy. Dr. Domeier believes Amy has come to the Sea of Cortez to give birth. The crew soon finds out that this phenomenal region has much more to teach them. They will go on a journey to find the truth behind the great white shark folklore surrounding this area. As the crew uncovers secrets of the Sea of Cortez; the search for Amy continues.
“Shark Men: Deadly Sea” premieres Sunday at 10pm on the National Geographic Channel.
Washington has banned the trade and sale of shark fins.
The Seattle Times is reporting that Washington’s Governor Chris Gregoire has signed a shark fin ban into law. Senate Bill 5688 prohibits the sale or trade of shark fins or shark fin derivatives in the state. The bill passed unanimously in the state Senate and by a vote of 95 to 1 in the House.
Shark fins are primarily used for shark fin soup. The practice of shark finning can involve cut the fins off of live sharks and dumping the rest of the animal back into the sea to drown. Supporters of the bill hope that it will reduce pressure on the world’s shark populations.
According to a Mercury News report, about 50 dead leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) were found in Redwood Shores, California last month. California Department of Fish and Game necropsy results from one of the sharks indicated that the animal had suffered internal bleeding, but biologists have yet to determine the cause of the die-off of the animals.
In addition to the leopard sharks found in Redwood Shores, the Mercury News reports that hundreds of leopard sharks have washed up throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, according to Pelagic Shark Research Foundation.
You can check out the full story at MercuryNews.com.
According to Canada’s The Globe and Mail, marine biologist have discovered an aggregation spot for blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis) in British Columbia’s Queen Charlotte Sound. Dr. Rob Williams, of Scotland’s University of St. Andrews, discovered the “hot spot” just south of Haida Gwaii, while conducting a survey for the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
According to The Globe and Mail report, Dr. Williams estimated that 20,000 blue and salmon sharks gathered in the relatively small area each summer. A paper was published on the findings last year and was recently tabled with the Cohen Commission
For more information, check out Mark Hume’s full article “Shark week: Marine biologists hit ‘hot spot’ off B.C. coast” at The Globe and Mail.
(Video included primarily for the photo of the white shark. Enjoy the rest of it as you see fit.)
It seems at least one great white shark has already made the trek to Massachusetts waters for the summer (assuming that all white sharks actually leave the area during the “off-season”). Fishermen spotted the white shark circling the carcass of a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) about a mile off Gay Head, according to an article from The Boston Herald.
Boat captain Jeff Lynch said the shark was as big as his boat and estimated the length of the shark at 20′. Reginald Zimmerman of the Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs estimated the shark at over 17′ and added that “it could have been 20 feet,” according to Herald report.
DMF biologist Gregory Skomal had hoped to tag the shark but did not arrive on the scene in time, according to the Boston Globe. The white shark disappeared after NOAA and Environmental Police towed the whale carcass away.
While white sharks are not uncommon in Massachusetts waters, this is the first confirmed white shark sighting in the area this season.
White sharks observed at the surface were identified by unique markings.
Earlier this year, reports of the results of study which estimated the number of white sharks off central California made headlines. Researchers formulated the estimate after surveying known and unknown white shark specimens, which were observed at the surface. Individual sharks were identified based on each shark’s unique markings.
Dr. Michael Domeier of Marine CSI has recently posted commentary on the methodology used in the above mentioned study. Domeier cites that the study assumed that the sampled white shark population was a closed population. Domeier goes on to say that the long term monitoring of white sharks at Isla de Guadalupe has shown that adult white sharks leave and join the population, which violates the assumption of a closed population.
Additionally, Domeier states that the assumption that individual sharks have an equally probability of being observed has been invalidated by previous research.
Domeier concludes that since estimate was based on “faulty assumptions” the estimate is invalid. He also states that the actual number of white sharks in the respective region is “likely dramatically higher” than the estimate reported in the published study.
Dr. Domeier’s full discussion of this study can be found at the Marine CSI website.