The Newport Aquarium boasts having the “largest collection of shark rays on display in the world.” However, the aquarium is down one shark ray after their latest addition, a 6-year-old female, died on Monday, according to a USA Today report.

Shark rays (Rhina ancylostoma), also known as bowmouth guitarfish, have a distinctive appearance with broad rounded head like a “traditional” ray with dorsal and caudal fins similar in appearance to sharks. The species is typically found in Indo-Pacific waters and spends most of its time on the ocean floor. The shark ray is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN red list.

The Newport Aquairum’s newest shark ray was recently added to the “Shark Ray Bay” last week. The mating process for the species typically involves the biting down on the female’s pectoral fin to hold her. The aquarium’s curator said the in this instance the male bit the recently added female in the abdomen. She was removed from the exhibit when aquarium staff noticed she was in distress. An ultrasound revealed internal bleeding which resulted in the shark ray’s death.

For more on the story, check out USA Today’s “Mating injury kills Kentucky aquarium’s shark ray” article.

The New York Times published a feature yesterday titled “Rethinking Tournaments Where Sharks Always Lose” which covers a more “environmentally-friendly” shark tournament that will take place July 27-28 in Montauk, NY.

Montauk is quite well-known for its shark tournaments that result in fishermen stringing up shark carcasses along the docks for all to see. Late Montauk resident Frank Mundus helped pioneer shark fishing in the region and was reportedly the inspiration for Quint in the novel and movie “Jaws.”

This weekend’s Shark’s Eye Tournament will bring a different approach to Montauk’s famed shark events featuring a no-kill approach that will involve satellite tagging of selected sharks. The tournament will use a point system with values based on the species of sharks captured with bonus points awarded for satellite tagged sharks. The caught sharks will be photographed by an “observer” assigned to each vessel in the competition. Only single, non stainless steel, inline circle hooks will be allowed in the tournament.

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has donated $10,000 in cash prizes, and artist April Gornik has donated a painting which will be presented to the winner of the tournament.

WARNING: Video contains language that may be offensive to some.

YouTube user Eugene van Wyngaardt had a close encounter with a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) while spearfishing off the South African coast. Van Wyngaart described the shark as a 5m female. The white shark came in for a close enough look that van Wyngaart gave her a prod with his speargun. The shark circled the boat 3 times after van Wyngaardt got out of the water, according to the video description.

According to an Oceana press release, the European Union (EU) adopted a strict ban on shark finning, which became effective on July 6, 2013. Existing shark EU shark finning regulations banned the finning of sharks. However, loopholes in the existing regulations allowed exemptions which made enforcement of the ban difficult.

The amended shark fin ban closes the previously existing loopholes and requires all sharks landed in EU ports and by EU vessels worldwide to have their fins naturally attached.

For more information, check out the Oceana press release and the full-text of the amended EU regulation

Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2013 campaign, featuring “Snuffy the seal” continues with a third promotional video. The latest Shark Week ad appears to be a VH1 “Behind the Music” style parody chronicle Snuffy’s rise and fall.

Responses to the “Snuffy” promotional videos on Discovery’s YouTube channel have been mixed. Some viewers have expressed that they think the videos are humorous, while other have criticized the videos as being in poor taste. However, the ads do seem to be creating some “buzz” for this year’s edition of Shark Week, which is likely the primary goal of the ad campaign.

Shark Week 2013 begins on August 4 at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. central) on the Discovery Channel.

What are your thoughts on the “Snuffy the seal” ad campaign? Sound off in the comments below!

Discovery Channel continues to ramp up its advertising campaign for Shark Week 2013 with another Snuffy the Seal promo. This latest entry in the campaign features John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted urging viewers to be on the lookout for the suspect in the Snuffy’s death.

Shark Week 2013 begins Sunday, August 4 at 9PM/8PM Central.

NOAA’s NMFS has concluded that NEP white sharks are not in danger of extinction.

On July 3, 2013, NOAA announced that the Northeastern Pacific (NEP) white shark population does not warrant being listed as an endangered or threatened species at this time. More specifically, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concluded that the NEP white shark population “is neither in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range nor likely to become so in the foreseeable future.”

The announcement was based on a 12-month study that was prompted by last year’s petition from conservation groups to review the status of the distinct population segment of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias).

For more information on the announcement, check out:

12-Month Finding on Petitions To List the Northeastern Pacific Ocean Distinct Population Segment of White Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act

Status Review of the Northeastern Pacific Population of White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) Under the Endangered Species Act