New hotspots found for whale sharks off Madagascar
NOSY BE (MADAGASCAR)- Could the island of Nosy Be, off western Madagascar be a new global hotspot for endangered whale sharks? Recent satellite tag-data from research suggests this as possibility. That the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) live in these waters is no secret. They are routinely sighted off the northwest coastContinue Reading
How will sharks respond to climate change? It might depend on where they grew up
They may have been around for hundreds of millions of years — long before trees — but today sharks and rays are are among the most threatened animals in the world, largely because of overfishing and habitat loss. By Culum Brown, Macquarie University and Connor Gervais Climate change adds anotherContinue Reading
Fatal shark attacks are at a record high. ‘Deterrent’ devices can help, but some may be nothing but snake oil
ROBINA (AUSTRALIA) – As summer descends in Australia, sharks may be at the forefront of the minds of many beach goers and reef adventurers. By Daryl McPhee, Bond University Globally, the number of shark bites is on the rise, with a threefold increase since 1982. White sharks, bull sharks and tigerContinue Reading
US woman bitten by shark in Hawai‘i
HONOLULU (Hawai‘i)- A 35-year-old woman, visiting from California, was bitten by a shark on Thanksgiving Day in waters off the Hawaiian island of Maui. “A companion nearby saw a fin in the water and reported the woman was bitten by a shark,” the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources saidContinue Reading
New project highlights Libya as hotspot for angel sharks
Scientists and conservation activists in Libya have launched the Angel Shark Project in Libya. This project aims to promote reporting of angel shark catch and identification in Libya, and highlight the importance of Libya as a hotspot for angel sharks in the Mediterranean sea. In a global extinction risk reviewContinue Reading
Bahamas wants to keep sharks protected
No measure are needed to reduce shark conservation, says the Bahamas National Trust in reaction to concerned fishermen who see an increase in shark interactions while fishing, spearfishing and diving. The shark attraction industry brings in more than $100 million a year. The Bahamas National Trust “understands the concerns expressedContinue Reading
Are sharks in danger because of Covid-19 vaccine?
VENICE BEACH (USA)- In the race for a vaccine to stop the spread of COVID-19, some vaccine candidates are made with squalene, a natural oil made in the liver of sharks. If everyone in the world would receive one dose, it would need 250.000 sharks. Scientists actually say that twoContinue Reading