Killing the Gentle Giants

Shark Focus
www.sharktrust.org
THE MAGAZINE OF THE SHARK TRUST
Issue 44 July 2012
Killing the Gentle Giants
Examining the Trade in Manta Gill Rakers
Demon Fish
Travels through the Hidden World of Sharks
Fishing to the Limit
A Maximum Sustainable Yield for Sharks?
plus
all your Shark Trust
and EEA news
Supporting the
CAMPAIGN CORNER
As the debate on the European Shark Finning
Regulation enters its final stages, the Shark
Trust, working as a founder member of the
Shark Alliance, will be emphasising the
weight of support behind a policy to end
removal of shark fins at sea. The Trust will
urge members of the European Parliament’s
Fisheries Committee to support the European
Commission’s proposal which endorses fins
naturally attached: a proposal which has
already been called for by the European
Parliament in 2010, more recently endorsed
by the Council of Ministers, and supported
by the European Parliament’s Environment
Committee.
In 2011, with your support, 165,000 EU citizens (over
60,000 from the UK alone!) asked their Fisheries
Minister to ‘make the push’ and support fins naturally
attached – resulting in 25 of 27 Ministers supporting the
proposal in the European Council earlier this year.
This summer in the form of a rather extended European
Shark Week, the Shark Trust and our colleagues across
Europe will be advocating for continued support for fins
naturally attached. We will publicly engage individuals
from the science and conservation communities,
members of the public, the European Commission,
key politicians, decision-makers, opinion-formers and
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), seeking
public support for the campaign.
Supporting the European Elasmobranch Association
The Shark Trust
4 Creykes Court, The Millfields, Plymouth PL1 3JB
Tel: (+44) (0)1752 672008/672020 Fax: (+44) (0)1752 672008
Email: enquiries@sharktrust.org
Website: http://www.sharktrust.org
Shark Focus
Issue 44 July‑ 2012
Features
Supporting the fins
naturally attached
proposal.
© The Shark Trust.
The Shark Trust has invited Richard Benyon, UK
Fisheries Minister, to lead the way in the UK and
Europe by championing sharks and publicly pledging
his continued support for the fins naturally attached
proposal. Following a launch by the Minister at Sealife
London Aquarium, the Trust hopes Aquariums, other
organisations and individuals across the UK will
encourage their regional MEPs to renew their pledge of
support.
For the latest news on European Shark Week 2012, and
for all campaign updates, visit the Shark Trust website.
For an update on the review of the Shark Finning
Regulation and other policy activities see page 9.
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www.sharktrust.org/campaigns Shark Trust and World Shark News
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Edited by the Shark Trust
©Shark Trust 2012
Shark Focus is published three times a year in March, July and November. Copy date for
the next issue is 30th September 2012. Shark Focus is copyrighted and therefore those
wishing to reproduce articles must first contact the Shark Trust. The views and opinions
expressed by the authors in Shark Focus are not necessarily those of the Shark Trust.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual
income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.”
Charles Dickens
fortunate to receive a considerable legacy grant from the
Tubney Charitable Trust, so this is wonderful news, giving
us the financial stability many charities would love to have.
Can those of you who pay your subscription by
standing order please check that your mandate is being
honoured correctly? Also costs of membership at present
are: Students/Juniors £15, Individual £25. Family £30,
Groups £50. Please can you check you are paying the
correct amount? Thank you.
Have a wonderful summer, or as wonderful as the
weather allows, and if you are fortunate enough to see
any sharks at all, or collect eggcases, do let us know.
If you have any questions with regards, finance and
administration please do not hesitate to contact me at
glenys@sharktrust.org, I am always happy to hear
from you.
Killing the Gentle Giants
Shark HardTalk
Elasmo-lympics
Fish Out of Water
Demon Fish: Travels through the Hidden World of Sharks
Fishing to the Limit
Regulars
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Housekeeping
I don’t know where the year is going as already we
are onto the July Shark Focus. It has been a busy few
months and recently The Shark Trust has completed
another successful audit. The accounts will shortly be
submitted to the Charities Commission and Companies
House in line with legal requirements. It is nice to report,
as a smaller charity, that not only do the team continue
doing exceptional conservation work, but we are doing
this with financial credibility. There cannot be many
charities that can honestly say they have only expended
3% of their total income on administration, management
and governance. We are all very proud of this. You can
view the accounts after the end of July, on the Charities
Commission website should you wish to.
The economic climate is still very volatile and like many
of our associates we have seen a drop in income from
donations and subscriptions. However we were extremely
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Established in 1997, the Shark Trust works to advance the worldwide conservation
of sharks through science, education, influence and action. The Trust is the UK
member of the European Elasmobranch Association and currently provides the
EEA’s secretariat services.
Trustee/Directors: Richard Peirce (Chair), Sue Bates, George Bowser, Roger Covey, Paul Cox,
Sarah Fowler OBE, Heather Koldeway, John Nightingale and Christopher Pringle.
Patrons: Nick Baker, John Boyle, Leonard Compagno, Marc Dando, Bob Earll, Bernard Eaton,
Ian Fergusson, Mariella Frostrup, Loyd Grossman, John Gummer MP, Monty Halls, Martha Holmes,
Kate Humble, Sir David Jason OBE, Gordon Ramsay OBE, Simon Rogerson, Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch,
Michaela Strachan and Ron and Valerie Taylor
EDITORIAL
At the end of May, anglers Graeme Pullen and Wayne Comben were Tope fishing near
Cambeak Head, north Cornwall, when they got a bite from a large Porbeagle which
they estimated at 10 feet long and weighing 550 lbs. I look out of my office window
at this stretch of water, and what interested me most about this capture was that
it was the third large Porbeagle caught in a week in the same area. All three sharks
were caught by anglers and all three successfully released. For several years north
Cornish anglers have caught large females in this general area in April and May. After
this time the males seem to appear, then later in the summer there are many records
of juvenile Porbeagles being caught between Padstow and St. Ives further south and
west.
The Trust has published ‘best practice catch and release guidance’ for shark
anglers, and was delighted that all three fish were not only released but hadn’t
suffered injury and swum off strong. CEFAS are currently conducting research into
Porbeagle movements around the British Isles, and it will be very interesting to see
whether this research confirms the anecdotal evidence that has built up over the
years. In north Cornwall we seem to get mixed sex aggregations in July year after
year in two or three locations. Then the sharks disperse and research from a tagging
exercise in 2008 indicates a general southwest movement, which ties in with the
theories long-believed by anglers. The Porbeagle is a highly mobile species and
research confirming its migration patterns will be invaluable in ensuring that this
mobility is taken into account as protected zones are set up around the UK.
Alison Towner spoke to me for this issue’s ‘Hard Talk’ and commented on the
recent Ocearch programme in South Africa. Some of you may be aware of the
massive controversy surrounding this issue with many questioning the validity of the
research, and whether or not a protected species should be targeted by rod and line
catching and put at risk. Data and results are starting to come in, and there is every
cause to hope that this extensive programme will fill in many gaps concerning our
White Shark knowledge in this area.
This is the Shark Trust’s 15th anniversary year and amongst other activities,
the Trust will be hosting an event at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth in
September. This event will be a great opportunity to celebrate sharks, meet members
and supporters and present some of the Trust’s most active members with coveted
Shark Champion awards.
As always at this time of the year I will end by wishing everybody a good summer,
and by saying that I hope those of you who get on or in the water manage to
encounter sharks. If you do please get in touch with us and tell us about it, as our
sightings database relies entirely on this type of input.
Registered Company No. 3396164. Registered Charity No. 1064185.
The Shark Trust is supported by: the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Pew Foundation,
the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England, DEFRA, Seafish and Fondation Ensemble.
Glenys Heafield,
Financial Administrator &
Company Secretary.
Shark Focus 44
Go well
Design: Fluke Art. www.flukeart.com
Richard Peirce
Chairman
A surface feeding manta ray. © The Manta Trust/Guy Stevens.
Shark Focus 44
www.sharktrust.org 3
Killing the
Gentle Giants
Guy Stevens
Director - The Manta Trust
Mass feeding mantas at Hanifaru. © The Manta Trust/Guy Stevens.
Manta rays are the largest of more than 550
species of skates and rays found throughout
the world’s ocean and freshwater systems,
and with a disc width of over 7m and weighing
as much as 2000kg, they truly are some of
the most impressive animals on the planet.
Mantas occur throughout tropical, sub-tropical
and temperate oceans wherever nutrient-rich
waters are swept to the surface, creating
a rich source of food for the tiny planktonic
animals upon which the mantas feed. The
giant rays sieve the plankton from the water
with huge mouths and specially adapted
feathery gill rakers which trap the zooplankton
as it passes through their gills. Modified fins
on their heads, called cephalic lobes, also
unfurl during feeding to further help channel
the water into their gaping mouths.
The mantas giant size, inquisitive and
peaceful nature and their propensity to
frequent tropical shallow reefs has boosted
tourism industries in many nations around the
world, where enthralled divers and snorkelers
seek out the thrill of an underwater encounter
with these fascinating creatures. However, all
around the world fishermen are also seeking
out their own encounters with these animals,
killing them for just a fraction of the rewards
generated by the global tourism industry, and
at a much greater cost for all.
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I’ve been lucky enough to have encountered
some of the most spectacular animals on
this planet in their natural habitat, but none
have captivated me quite like manta rays.
There is a connection you feel when staring
into the eye of a manta ray which you
rarely get with most other marine animals,
especially those of the fishy variety.
However, while manta rays are indeed
fishes, in terms of their strategies for
survival and reproduction, elasmobranchs
have much more in common with marine
mammals. Just like marine mammals,
manta rays have a large brain in proportion
to their body size; in fact they have the
largest brain of all fishes. It therefore
comes as little surprise to me that when I
look into the eye of a manta ray and wonder
what thoughts are going on inside its brain
I get the distinct impression the manta ray
is asking itself the exact same question.
Fishing for Profits
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The flesh of manta and mobula rays (close relatives of the mantas,
commonly known as devil rays because of the horn-like fins which
project off the front of their heads) has always been considered
to be of relatively poor quality by humans. As a result these
animals have not been widely targeted in commercial fisheries
in the past. However in recent years this has changed, with the
ray’s feathery gill rakers rapidly becoming a desired product. A
recent report on ‘Global Threats to Manta and Mobula Rays’ by the
Manta Ray of Hope Project estimated the global gill raker trade
had a market value of US$11 million annually, driving directed and
unsustainable fisheries for these charismatic creatures throughout
their range.
The reason for this sudden change of fortunes is a tale of
depressing repetition played out on a regular basis all over the
planet. This time it is the turn of the mantas to pay the price
for becoming the latest commodity in the often perplexing and
ecologically destructive Chinese medicinal trade.
These fisheries are of even greater concern when certain
aspects of manta and mobula ray biology are taken into account.
The impacts of fishing are especially critical for the manta rays,
which are estimated to require fifteen years to reach sexual
maturity and produce only one pup every two – five years. If the
fishing of manta and mobula rays carries on at existing levels
it is highly likely that these species will become commercially
extinct throughout most of their range within just a few decades.
Localised population crashes have already been documented in
the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), the Lakshadweep Islands (India) and
in many regions across Indonesia, where ‘boom and bust’ fisheries
have occurred in recent decades.
www.sharktrust.org/sharks Shark Focus 44
The Gill Rakers
Sustainable Solutions
The gill rakers, or branchial appendages, are thin cartilage
filaments that enable the rays to filter zooplankton from the
water column. Every manta or mobula has five pairs of gills,
each protected inside a gill slit. Inside each of the ten gill slits
there is one complete feathery gill raker which forms a circle
around the periphery of the slit, trapping their planktonic food
as it is funnelled through the ray’s mouth and out through
these gill rakers.
Once dried, gill rakers are the most valuable parts of the
mobulid rays and drive commercial fisheries for these species,
with particularly large fisheries present in Sri Lanka and
Indonesia. Although the rakers comprise just a tiny percentage
of the body-mass, they sell for significantly more than the rest
of the body parts put together. While rakers are used from both
mobula and manta rays, the gill rakers from mantas (usually
the Oceanic Manta Ray Manta birostris) fetch the highest
prices, followed by the larger species of mobulas (generally
Mobula tarapacana and then M. japanica), with the price
reducing significantly as the size of the rakers decreases.
The demand for gill rakers is so high that in certain
countries, such as Sri Lanka, fishermen who used to avoid
catching mobulid rays due to their propensity to damage fishing
nets are now driven to fill their holds with mobulid rays when
returning to harbour. This demand, coupled with the dwindling
supplies of more desirable fish catches (such as shark, tuna
and billfish) now gives fishermen even greater incentive to
actively target mobulid rays to maintain their livelihood.
Unfortunately in today’s increasingly commercialised
and crowded world a country’s marine resources
must pay their way. It is just not realistic to expect
governments or communities to protect species and
habitats for their intrinsic or ecological values alone.
Yet, if species and habitats are to be conserved,
there must be a short-term, financially viable
alternative to the more destructive and unsustainable
practices such as fishing.
In the Maldives manta rays have never been
fished commercially and are not consumed locally
as their flesh is considered poor quality. However,
manta rays are still worth a lot of money. In a
recently published paper my colleagues and I valued
direct revenue from specific manta dive and snorkel
excursions across the Maldives to total US$8.1
million annually. This is a massive and completely
sustainable revenue stream for this small island
nation, which depends on tourism as the mainstay of
its economy. Globally, it is estimated that the manta
ray tourism industry generates well over US$100
million annually. Using the Maldives as an example
we can see that while tourism does bring its own
set of new problems, it is a vastly more acceptable
alternative for countries such as Indonesia and
Sri Lanka than the current rapid depletion of their
marine resources through direct fisheries.
The good news is that it is not too late for
governments to act and help turn the corner towards
a more sustainable future. One route to addressing
this problem would be to implement regulations
on the international trade in gill rakers by listing
rays under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Strict trade regulation would immediately make
manta and mobula fisheries less economically viable,
as it is the export trade in gill rakers which is driving
these fisheries. Furthermore, such a restriction would
involve little overall financial loss to the exporting
nations, with the majority of profits from manta and
mobula fisheries going to middlemen and retailers in
the consuming nations.
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Chinese Medicine
The international trade in mobulid gill rakers, driven by demand
from the Chinese medicinal trade, appears to be a relatively
new phenomenon, with demand increasing significantly over
the last couple of decades. Those selling or promoting the use
of this product claim the rakers can treat health issues ranging
from asthma, to skin rashes, to chicken pox and even cancer.
Some of the practitioners also maintain that rakers reduce
toxins, boost the immune system and aid in the detoxification
of the bloodstream. However, reviews of available literature,
along with interviews of well-respected practitioners have
revealed that there is no evidence to support any of these
claims, with some practitioners even admitting that gill
rakers are not effective and that many other alternatives are
available. Gill rakers are often consumed in a soup (locally
called Peng Yu Sai), with other ingredients including ginseng
and dried pipefish. However, in contrast to the prestige
accorded to shark fins (and shark fin soup), gill rakers are
regarded as the key ingredient in a medicinal product.
It appears that this growing demand is due to savvy product
marketing by Chinese retailers who have exploited a relatively
abundant commodity to create a new product in the traditional
medicine industry, falsely ‘reviving’ a remedy which in reality
does not exist in the traditional literature. One of the key
marketing strategies plays on consumer fear of the increasing
prevalence of modern disease outbreaks such as Bird Flu,
Swine Flu and SARS. The sales pitch suggests that as these
fish are able to filter particles from the water with their gill
rakers, if consumed, these rakers will aid in the detoxification
and purification of the consumer’s body by filtering out disease
and toxins. Most consumers are unaware that the product
comes from manta and mobula rays; indeed most consumers
are not even aware of what a manta or mobula ray is and
therefore have no idea of the impact their choice is having on
these increasingly vulnerable species.
Shark Focus 44
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The Manta Trust, our supporters, and the NGO
community are working hard to make trade
restrictions a reality at the next CITES conference of
parties, hosted by Thailand in March 2013. We hope
the nations of the world will vote to protect these
graceful giants before it is too late.
For more information on the Manta Trust and
their campaigns visit: www.mantatrust.org.
Image 2: Fishing for mantas. © Manta Ray of Hope/Paul Hilton.
Image 3: Manta birostris wings. © The Manta Trust/Daniel Fernando.
Image 4: Mobula japanica gill rakers. © Gisela Kaufmann.
Image 5: Drying manta and mobula gill rakers. © Manta Ray of Hope/
Paul Hilton.
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Image 6: Dried mobulid gill rakers. © Manta Ray of Hope/Paul Hilton.
Image 7: Peng Yu Sai bowl. © The Manta Trust/Guy Stevens.
www.sharktrust.org/sharks 5
Shark
hard
talk
By Richard Peirce
Richard Peirce talks to
Alison Towner
RPThere has been, and still is, considerable
controversy over a new TV documentary series
which is a follow up to a National Geographic
series called Shark Men and was shot off
California. The new series was recently shot in
various South African locations. Can you explain
your involvement with this documentary?
AT A while back I was invited to attend a meeting
at which were most of South Africa’s leading
shark scientists. I was told that a programme
would soon start which would involve the
satellite tagging of sharks, particularly White
Sharks, but other species as well. I was asked
if I would like to be involved in the project. I
was basically onboard to see their methods,
but eventually I will receive the data that will
result. Although I was onboard I specifically
said that I didn’t want to be part of the movie
they are making, and I also made it clear I
wanted to view their methods before I decided
whether to be involved.
RPThe White Shark is an endangered animal
which is protected in South Africa, and at the
moment the government is prosecuting anglers
for catching White Sharks. There are many who
say that catching, stressing, and risking the
lives of large sharks in order to tag them is not
appropriate for an endangered species. What’s
your personal view on this? Is catching large
sharks justified for filmmaking and science?
Alison Towner. © Alison Towner.
Alison Towner is a marine biologist based in
Gansbaai, South Africa, and is attached to
the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.
RPHow long were sharks that were being tagged
spending out of the water?
AT I was only involved in Gansbaai, and from
what I observed there were fourteen individual
sharks tagged, and I would say the average
time on the cradle was twelve minutes. I didn’t
see an animal kept on the cradle any longer
than sixteen minutes, and every single shark
that I saw swam away strongly, and three or
four individuals circled the boat with their
dorsal fins out of the water after being released.
I was horrified by the first Shark Men series
and in fact I can’t even watch it, but the
methodology and handling techniques used
in South Africa were totally different. This
new series will start being aired in a months
time, and people will be able to judge for
themselves.
AT We don’t know enough about stress response,
or pain, we really don’t know what these
animals endure when they get hooked. I
presume it’s very stressful. But this is the only
way we can put this type of tag onto the sharks,
and the data gathered will be of great value
in better understanding these animals, and in
getting more effective protection for them.
RPWhile I understand that the data gathered
will help plug knowledge gaps, could it be
counterproductive? At the moment, in some
ways the mysteries of the White Shark are part
of its protection. If we know where they go all
year round and by what routes they travel, then
couldn’t this possibly be giving information to
poachers who otherwise wouldn’t have known
where to find them?
RPWho decides the value of the science and
data, and is there a process that evaluates
the science against the possible risks to the
animals and then makes a judgement? Is it the
scientists who are involved in the project who
make this decision, or is there an independent/
impartial body involved?
AT I really don’t think so. These animals are
moving frequently and over long distances.
Another way to look at it is that if, for example,
this research revealed where sharks were
aggregating and when, then we would be able
to approach government to take action to limit
bycatch.
AT As I said, all of South Africa’s top shark
scientists got together and agreed that this
exercise was justified in order to answer the
questions that need answering about White
Sharks in particular, but also about other
species, some of which are data-deficient, and
are not protected species. The methodology
then went to an ethics committee involving
several universities, and after this the decision
was made to go forward.
RPI understand that Mike Meyer from the
Department of Environmental Affairs has
revealed that one of the sharks that had been
caught and released has subsequently died?
Were you aware of this?
RPSo it is fair to say that the value of the science
was evaluated against a possible risk to the
animals?
AT Yes
RPWhat data, specifically relevant to White Sharks,
is expected from this current exercise?
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AT It’s a multi-faceted/multi-species project.
But for White Sharks in particular, there are
something like twenty different data sets we
would hope to make progress on. We are spottagging, deploying internal transmitters, and
have a system of listening stations all along
the South African coast. We will be able to
track the sharks for up to ten years, they also
took blood samples to indicate pregnancy etc.
All the unanswered questions are now being
addressed by this programme.
www.sharktrust.org/hardtalk
AT The first time I heard that statement was
when I was sitting in the Parliament with a
look of total shock on my face because that
information had not been communicated to
anyone other than the main scientists who
were involved in Mossel Bay. There is still no
hard evidence that the animal is dead, but it
swam away very slowly and subsequently it
hasn’t transmitted any signals so they presume
it might be dead. Of course if it does turn out
to be true it’s tragic. That would be one animal
out of forty, if it has died.
Shark Focus 44
RPAre the other thirty-nine transmitting
successfully?
RPI know you had mixed feelings about being
involved in the Ocearch project, but is it fair to
say that you now believe that the project will
provide valuable data that will ultimately help
protect the sharks?
AT Not all of them yet, and according to Chris
Fischer (Ocearch) sometimes it takes two
to three months before signals start being
received.
AT Yes that’s right.
RPI heard that monitoring devices have been
inserted into the body cavities of some sharks.
Is this true, and if so what are these devices
for?
AT I really don’t know much about this, and so I’d
prefer not to comment.
RPI was told by shark tourism operators in Mossel
Bay, False Bay, and Gansbaai that there was a
dispersal of White Sharks immediately after the
Ocearch operations? Was this true?
AT It may well be that in Mossel Bay there was
some sort of stress response, the animals did
appear to leave the area temporarily, but now
most of them are back. We didn’t see the same
response in Gansbaai.
Background information
Earlier this year the South African Government
issued permits for Ocearch to satellite-tag and
take samples from White Sharks Carcharodon
carcharias at various sites along the South
African coast, (Seal Island in False Bay, Dyer
Island near Gansbaai, and in Mossel Bay). The
research was undertaken and filmed to be
included in the National Geographic Channel’s
Shark Men series. The previous series of
Shark Men (filmed in the US and Mexico) drew
criticism from some marine biologists and
environmentalists, in particular regarding the use
of chum, and the necessity for each shark to be
‘played’ on a barbless hook until it tired, before
being brought on-deck for tagging and sampling,
often for extended periods of time.
In South Africa concerns were again raised about
the methodology, as well as questioning whether
commercial interests had taken precedence
over scientific objectives. These questions were
particularly pertinent given the White Shark’s
protected status in South African waters and
‘Vulnerable’ listing on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. However, it should be noted
that, as well as documented declines in global
populations, our relatively poor understanding
of the White Shark’s biology and life-history is a
significant factor in the IUCN listing.
What happened in Gansbaai was the first time
Ocearch came in, they tagged eight individuals,
then we had a lull in shark numbers, it didn’t
go dead. However we had a lot of summer
conditions in winter – south easterlies blowing,
low oxygen, then a front came in and all the
sharks arrived back at the island. False Bay
has now gone dead and the sharks have
moved east. There are many different factors
that could be playing a part, for example there
is a pod of Orca predating on dolphins off
Muizenberg daily at the moment, which could
well be another reason why there are no White
Sharks in False Bay right now.
On April 19th, during the same period Ocearch
was conducting research, David Lilienfeld
suffered fatal injuries as a result of a White Shark
bite while surfing in Kogel Bay on the eastern
shore of False Bay. Following the incident the
South African Government suspended Ocearch’s
permit, and speculation emerged that the
intensity of the Ocearch tagging program, in
particular the excessive use of chum, and stress
caused during capture may have displaced
White Sharks from the Seal Island ‘hotspot’ to
Kogel Bay, thereby increasing the risk of shark
attack for surfers in the area. An investigation
by the City of Cape Town concluded there was
no evidence to suggest the Ocearch programme
played any role in the tragic events that occurred
at Kogel Bay. Based on this, the South African
Government re-instated Ocearch’s permit and the
research program and filming resumed1.
RPNow an old standard. Do you feel that
chumming and baiting increases the risk of
shark attacks?
AT Again data-deficient. I have been working on
a cage diving boat for over five years and I’ve
been collecting data. In general I think we are
seeing more sharks but that can’t be tied to
chumming. The data that we are gathering
through Ocearch is the exact sort of data that
will be able to prove or disprove this theory.
This is what needed to happen to be able to
answer this question.
RPWhat is the biggest threat to South Africa’s
White Sharks?
AT Man. We have fisheries operating which don’t
report their bycatch, longliners, poachers
and shark nets. The data we are gathering
will tell us which beaches White Sharks are
using heavily, and this knowledge could guide
future deployment of shark nets, as well as
confirming White Shark hotspots and nursery
areas which we can then seek to protect.
Background information compiled by The Shark Trust.
1 City of Cape Town. 2012. Report and Review of Events at
Kogel Bay “Caves” After Great White Shark Attack. Media
Release No. 311/2012, 20 April 2012.
White Shark on the South African coast..
© Chris Fallows apexpredators.com.
Shark Focus 44
www.sharktrust.org/hardtalk
7
WORLD
SHARK NEWS
NEWS
News since last Focus
February 2012
Neurotoxins in Shark Fins: A Human Health Concern
A study by University of Miami scientists discovered high concentrations of BMAA, a neurotoxin
linked to neurodegenerative diseases in humans including Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig Disease
(ALS), in shark fins. The study suggests that consumption of shark fin soup and cartilage pills
may pose a significant health risk for degenerative brain diseases.
Scientists Say Even Sharks Make Friends
Evidence is mounting that certain species enjoy complex social lives that include longstanding
relationships and teamwork. A study conducted in French Polynesia demonstrated how one
population of Blacktip Reef Sharks is actually organised into four communities and two subcommunities. The research shows for the first time that adults of a reef-associated shark
species form stable, long-term social bonds.
Mobile Marine Reserves May End Slaughter of Endangered Sea Life
Polzeath Marine Discovery Day 2012
© The Shark Trust.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
In May, Cornwall Wildlife Trust ran a training day for enthusiastic new
volunteers to prepare them for the Seaquest Basking Shark Project. The
project is run from Land’s End Peninsula and relies on eager volunteers
to do shift work from the cliff tops to keep a watchful eye out to sea
and record what passes by over the summer period. The Shark Trust
contributed to this training day by presenting background on the biology and
behaviour of this charismatic species, as well as details about the Trust’s
on-going projects.
The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
The Shark Trust is collaborating with other shark experts, conservation
organisations and individuals to successfully advocate for the listing of
additional shark and ray species on the Appendices of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP16) in March 2013
in Thailand.
The coalition will work towards the main goal of securing the listing of
highly traded, commercially valuable cartilaginous fishes on the CITES
Appendices. Species currently under discussion for new CITES listings
include Porbeagle, hammerheads, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and Manta/
Devil Rays; proposals for these species are envisaged for CITES Appendix
II. As a secondary goal, the coalition will work to achieve the up-listing of
Freshwater Sawfish from Appendix II to Appendix I. Listing on Appendix II
results in trade controls and monitoring/reporting requirements; Appendix I
essentially bans commercial international trade.
The Convention on Migratory Species
March
Shark Protection Measures an EU First
The Scottish Government is the first in Europe to introduce legislation protecting a wide range
of species. The Sharks, Skates and Rays (Prohibition of Fishing) Order came into force on 30th
March and covers 26 species – including Angelshark, Tope, Common Skate and Undulate
Ray. The legislation extends current protection measures with a landing ban for recreational
anglers, as well as prohibiting commercial fishermen from catching vulnerable Tope.
Sawfish Snout Senses, Swipes and Stabs
Polzeath Marine Discovery Day
The Shark Trust once again joined in with Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine
Discovery Day held at Polzeath. This fantastic free event was packed full
of marine themed activities including eggcase hunting, dolphin rescue
demonstrations, arts and crafts, rock-pool rambles and sand sculpture
competitions. Despite Force-9 winds, there was a great turn out and the
Shark Trust joined the National Lobster Hatchery, British Divers Marine
Life Rescue, Marine Biological Association, National Trust and Cornwall
Seal Group to celebrate the diverse wildlife found in this Voluntary Marine
Conservation Area.
Shark Trust Displays
The eye-catching series of panels that are on tour around the UK’s
aquariums are currently on their way to London Sea Life for instalment over
the summer holidays. These panels have been making the rounds and to
date, have visited Selfridges Project Ocean, Bristol Aquarium, Torquay’s
Living Coasts and Portsmouth Blue Reef Aquarium. Plymouth National
Marine Aquarium and Living Coasts have now got the panels on permanent
display and hopefully they will soon appear in Hastings Blue Reef Aquarium
as well.
Bioblitz 2012: Cawsand Bay, Cornwall
In early July, the Shark Trust set up a stand in Cawsand Bay for this year’s
Bioblitz event organised by the Marine Biological Association. As usual,
shark jaws, eggcases, leaflets and
posters were a huge hit, getting children
and members of the public interested in
British sharks, and shark conservation.
So far 894 species have been identified,
and still counting..!
8
The indiscriminate slaughter of vast numbers of marine animals caught as by-catch could
be prevented by a radical proposal of mobile marine reserves. Existing marine protection
areas, where fishing is controlled, frequently fail because the endangered animals migrate to
unprotected regions where they get caught by nets and fishing lines. Protected areas where
commercial fishing is banned would work far better if they weren’t static conservation areas,
but moveable reserves that take into account the mobile nature of sea life.
Policy Update
The spectacular snouts of sawfish are revealed as complete hunting weapons, both sensing
prey and killing them. The saws have previously been identified as able to sense prey by their
electric fields. Now researchers have filmed the fish impaling prey on the teeth of the saws.
The researchers suggest sawfish may be unique among their peers in possessing a snout, or
rostrum, that works both as a sensory organ and a hunting weapon.
April
Tiny Sharks Provide Glowing Clue
A number of deep-dwelling sharks have special light-emitting organs on their undersides
that allow them to glow. A study of pygmy sharks now suggests the ability to control the trick
evolved from a shallow water ancestor. For both Smalleye Pygmy Sharks and Lantern Sharks
the light-emitting organs glow constantly, but by triggering the light and dark coloured skin
patches over them, the sharks can effectively switch this light on and off.
White Shark Catches on the Rise in Sea of Cortez
The capture of a gigantic White Shark in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez was major news because of
the size of the predator - nearly 20 feet long and weighing at least 2,000 pounds - but also
because catches of adult White Sharks in the area are considered rare. Sadly, however, such
catches appear to be increasingly common.
May
Largest Porbeagle Caught off Cornwall?
Two fishermen reeled in what is believed to be the largest Porbeagle caught in British waters.
Caught off the Cornish coast at Boscastle, only a few hundred metres from the shore, it was
estimated to be 10ft long and weigh 550lbs. The existing British record stands at 507lbs but
for any fish to be officially recognised as the largest, rules stipulate it must be killed and
weighed on shore. Thankfully, this shark was tagged and returned to the water.
Shark Attacks: A Magnetic Solution?
An American chemist has found a substance that can repel sharks. Repellents such as
magnetic underwater fences could be developed to protect swimmers, however the main focus
is on using repellents to protect sharks. Many shark species are caught by fishermen as bycatch, and so work is underway to produce fish hooks that are coated with a rare earth metal
which will still catch bony fish as usual, but repel sharks.
www.sharktrust.org/news Shark Focus 44
Shortfin Mako. © Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch.
Update: In Shark Focus 43 we reported on the progress of the review of the European
Shark Finning Regulation (EC) 1185/2003 through the European Parliament (EP) and
commented on the likely opposition, led by the Spanish industry, to the European
Commission’s proposal for fins naturally attached.
If the original schedule had been maintained the draft proposal would have been
presented to the EP’s Fisheries Committee in May, with amendments duly proposed
and voted on, and we would now be focusing on the July plenary vote in Strasbourg hopefully engaging the support of the majority of the 730+ Members of the European
Parliament. Yet in spite of a persuasive proposal from the European Commission,
support from the European Council of Minister’s and the EP Environment Committee,
the review has been repeatedly delayed due to interventions from the Portuguese
Rapporteur Mrs Patrão Neves.
The latest schedule sees the draft report presented to the Fisheries Committee in
mid-July with only the briefest opportunity for amendments to be proposed before the
MEPs summer recess. The plenary vote is now scheduled for October. As we go to
print the Trust can confirm receipt of the draft report ahead of the July meeting of the
Fisheries Committee. At this time the Trust will be joining Shark Alliance colleagues in
Brussels to brief MEPs and ensure support for the Commission’s original proposal –
fins naturally attached with no exceptions.
Watch the website for the latest updates and how to urge your MEP to pledge their
support.
Richard Benyon signing the agreement. © DEFRA.
The Shark Trust welcomed June’s signing of the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Sharks by the Fisheries Minister,
Mr Richard Benyon. The UK’s Overseas Territories of Bermuda, the Isle of Man,
Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and British Indian Ocean
Territories are also included in the signature.
The Convention on Migratory Species is concerned with conservation on a global
scale – conserving species, habitats and their migration routes. The purpose of
the Memorandum, the first of its kind relating to the conservation of sharks, is the
recovery and long term management of populations. It currently covers seven shark
species listed on the CMS Appendices: Basking Shark, White Shark, Whale Shark,
Shortfin and Longfin Mako Shark, Porbeagle and Northern Hemisphere populations
of the Spiny Dogfish. Many of these species occur in the waters around the UK’s
Overseas Territories so their involvement will be valuable in helping us meet the
objectives of the MoU.
Under the agreement, work will focus on improving fisheries data for threatened
shark species to help inform conservation and management actions. It will
see better co-ordination of shark management and conservation measures at
regional and international levels, including proposals to limit the catch or trade in
endangered species of shark.
Signing the agreement, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon said: “We must do all
we can to protect these vulnerable species before they are lost forever. The UK is
already pushing the EU to tighten controls on the wasteful and barbaric practice of
shark finning, and this agreement further demonstrates our determination to ensure
they do have a future. We will continue to lead the way on shark conservation
internationally and will push for improvements wherever they’re needed.”
Shark Focus 44
European Shark Finning Regulation Review
Background: Shark finning became illegal in EU waters and on EU vessels
in 2003, however loopholes enable the removal of shark fins at sea under
permitted conditions, managed through a complicated and excessive
fin:carcass ratio. Spain and Portugal are the only Member States who
permit this practice. A review of the EU Shark Finning Regulation was
proposed as a priority action of the Community Plan of Action for Sharks.
Accordingly, following a public consultation period, the Commission
released a proposal (Nov 2011) for an end to the removal of shark fins at
sea through the adoption of a fins naturally attached policy. Fins naturally
attached will ease the enforcement burden, improve data collection and is
widely accepted as the simplest route to removing the opportunity to land
additional fin sets.
Landing a shark with its
fins naturally attached is
the most effective way to
prevent shark finning.
www.sharktrust.org/campaigns
The fins are partially cut
Fins naturally attached. © Marc Dando/Shark Trust.
9
Sponsorship
MEMBER’S pages
Red Sea Shark Encounters
Murray Brown
The Shark Trust would like to say a big thank you to all of those
people who continue to support shark conservation by generously
giving their time, passion and money.
Virgin Giving
We often receive emails from supporters wishing to raise funds for us, and so we have
now set up our own Virgin Giving page. From here, enthusiastic fundraisers can start
raising money straight away and already we have received significant funds from a
number of passionate individuals and groups.
Triathlon participants. © Frogfish Photography.
Sponsored Shark Swim
Whitetip Reef Shark. © Murray Brown.
Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks. © Murray Brown.
‘Shark!’ I yelled at my buddy before I realised that, being underwater,
she was a little too far away to hear my shouts. I made the divers’ sign
for ‘shark’ and we were treated to good views of a Whitetip Reef Shark
cruising just below us. Not the biggest or rarest shark in the world to
dive with but a shark always gives me a thrill.
This was July 2011; I was visiting friends in Hurghada and working towards my PADI
Divemaster qualification. My buddy lives in Hurghada and together, we have had our
fair share of Red Sea shark encounters. However, neither of us expected to see one
at this dive site (Torfa El Shaheed). To see this graceful creature immediately put a
smile on both of our faces.
Unfortunately only one other diver saw the shark but what struck me was how
many people showed an interest. The other divers aboard were all envious, the crew
were curious, and everyone wanted to see my buddy’s photos. Later, other diving
associates wanted to know the details. Nothing negative, all positive; this has to be
good for conservation, and for Egypt’s tourism.
Divers want to see sharks. For many they are at the very top of their ‘logbook wish
lists’. In 2007, I was lucky enough to dive around Cocos Island in the Eastern
Pacific with its sharks aplenty. However, the Red Sea has regularly produced some
memorable and varied shark encounters. The first was a Grey Reef Shark at Jackson
Reef in the Straits of Tiran nearly ten years ago. I missed its first pass but luckily it
came back. It was much deeper than I was and gave only a brief view but I was over
the moon. After more than 80 dives in the Red Sea, I’d finally seen a shark in the wild.
During the summer months, a regular haunt of Red Sea sharks is Ras Mohammed at
the tip of Sinai. Here, a huge school of barracuda gathers to breed and this, in turn,
attracts sharks. Blacktips are regular and I’ve also seen large Grey Reef and Whitetip
Reef Sharks there. In August 2003 a juvenile Whale Shark joined our dive boat
offshore. Needless to say I grabbed fins, mask and snorkel pretty quickly.
Jackson Reef (Tiran) can also be explored by means of the Sharm el Sheikh
diving day boats. There is a school of Scalloped Hammerheads there, at least in the
summer, although diving here can be difficult with strong currents and very choppy
surface conditions. If you can’t ‘get on to the back of the reef’, try diving the other
side; this site produced my very first shark – a Tiger – in 2004!
My diving around Marsa Alam has included Elphinstone Reef but sadly I wasn’t there
at the right time of year and the Oceanic Whitetips were absent. The appearance of a
Whitetip Reef Shark provided some compensation. If, like me, you’re unlucky with the
Oceanics, try the seagrass beds at Marsa Abu Dabab for the rare Halavi Guitarfish, a
little-known ray listed as ‘data-deficient’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In 2005, following a long campaign by HEPCA (the Hurghada Environmental
Protection and Conservation Association), the Egyptian Government issued a ban on
shark fishing in its territorial waters. I like to think that some of my more recent shark
encounters are the result of such protection, and hope that there will be a significant
and continued increase in shark sightings by divers throughout the Egyptian Red Sea.
Oh, and if like me, you’re a diver who craves meetings with sharks, please support
the Shark Trust; the annual subscription is about the same as the price of a snorkel
these days!
Murray Brown is a PADI Master Scuba Diver and has been diving in the Red Sea
regularly since 1998. Murray has also been
a member of the Shark Trust for eleven years.
Lewis Thompson, age 10, and his friend Seth completed a sponsored shark swim at
Ounsdale Leisure Centre in Wombourne. They both swam 1,000 metres and together
raised £120 for the Shark Trust. Lewis writes about his experience of fundraising and
explains why he wanted to raise money for the Shark Trust below:
“My friend Seth and I completed our
sponsored Shark Swim of 1,000 metres on
22nd November 2011 at Ounsdale Leisure
Triathlon runners. © Frogfish Photography.
Centre in Wombourne and raised £120 for
On Sunday 10th June, 14 brave divers competed in their first triathlon to help raise money Shark Trust!!! It was very tiring, but was
for the Shark Trust. Four relay teams and two individuals swam, cycled and ran their
worth it because we love sharks.
hearts out at the Chorlton X Triathlon held in Manchester. Dave Quatermain, from Uberfit
I have loved sharks for as long as I can
Events, agreed to let all 14 competitors enter the event without paying the usual fee, so
remember, I find them very fascinating and
that all money raised went directly to the Trust.
I am amazed at what they can do. I alone
Nick and Caroline, regular Sport Diver columnists (and long-time Shark Trust members) designed a Shark Trust Folder for myself,
from Frogfish Photography, were overwhelmed at the support the whole team received:
Seth and another member of our crew
“We had a huge group of people cheering us on, which really helps when you are
called Bradley. Everything we write and
getting tired. Some of the cheerleaders even travelled from abroad with support coming
draw about sharks goes into that folder. I
from Amsterdam and Hawaii! For all of us, it was the first triathlon we had competed in.
have and always will study sharks and I
Seth and Lewis. © Lewis Thompson.
Lyndon Saunders and Janet Fischer, who completed all three events as solo competitors
hope that when I am older I can become a
trained really hard and it paid off. They got the biggest cheers as they turned the corner
marine biologist and work for the Shark Trust.
to the finish line. The whole group and many of those who showed their support are now
On my 10th Birthday my Mum and Dad treated me with a surprise of diving with sharks
planning to do it all again next year!”
at Blue Planet Aquarium in Chester and it was an amazing experience, it was so much
Caroline completed the swim wearing a swim float shaped as a shark fin, kindly donated fun! An Angelshark brushed past me, touching my face!
by Dean from Aqualung/Apeks, which raised plenty of interest on the day. The 750m
I noticed that the Shark Trust has opened an adoption pack for Great White
swim took place in a lake at the local park, with swimmers trying to keep out of the way
Sharks, Whale Sharks and Basking Sharks – I have adopted a Great White Shark
of Canada Geese, ducks, swans and pond weed. The cycle (14km) and run (7.7km) were
today and I’m glad I have spent my money on such a good cause! The Great
even more challenging, as the heavy rain all week had caused the track to become muddy, White is my favourite shark!
slippery and very hard-going on the uphill climbs. Three of the four relay teams were
I can’t believe nearly 100,000,000 sharks every year are killed and sharks kill 10
rewarded by coming in the top three places and will receive medals for their efforts too!
or less humans a year. You have more chance of being killed by lightening or a bee sting!
The main objective was to support the Shark Trust, although we are now all fitter and
This is why I have done this for the Shark Trust and for all sharks species. I hope shark
lighter than when we agreed to this at the beginning of the year. So far the group of 14
finning stops and gets banned!
friends have raised over £3500 and money is still coming in. Nick said “The event was
I have attached a picture of myself and Seth (I am on the right) and a drawing I did of
hard work, especially for those of us that are not as fit as others! But it has all been worth a Great White Shark (see p.12). I hope you can include this note and pictures in the next
it now we know how much we have raised to help protect my favourite underwater animal. Shark Trust magazine.”
The total amount we have achieved is inspiring and helps to ease the aches and pains.”
Kind regards,
Lewis Thompson (I LOVE SHARKS!!!)
Upcoming Fundraising Events:
In a few weeks, Anna Burn will bravely complete her 100th dive naked; so far Anna has
raised £345 through her Virgin Giving page at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/nudilover
Blue-spotted Stingray. © Murray Brown.
10
Triathlon swimmers. © Frogfish Photography.
www.sharktrust.org/members Shark Focus 44
Shark Focus 44
Tom Sparks is running his first full marathon on 30th September in Loch Ness. Tom is
a shark enthusiast and has been out to South Africa to spend time with White Sharks in
False Bay on two occasions. So far Tom has raised £96.20 through his Virgin Giving page
at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TomSparksMarathon.
Send in your stories to enquiries@sharktrust.org 11
Elasmo-lympics
r
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MEMBER’S page
Droxford Junior School Cool Planet Week – 2012
With the UK swept up in sporting mania this summer, the Shark Trust has decided to celebrate some of the world’s most impressive
living shark species. Recognising some remarkable abilities, the categories range from the fastest to the largest, the most aerobatic to
the highest leaping and the weirdest to the deepest. Here are some of the world’s record breaking elasmobranchs:
Fastest shark: Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus
The Shortfin Mako is thought to be the fastest shark and has been recorded reaching speeds of 30mph (possibly more) and can chase down some of the faster bony fish such as
tuna and swordfish.
We have been learning about conservation and sustainability. We chose
different World Heritage Sites and found out why these are important. We
found out about the diversity of animals that live in and around the Great
Barrier Reef. It is important that food webs are not broken up. Sharks are
top predators but are still threatened by humans. In some areas they are
protected.
Slowest shark: Greenland Shark Somniosus microcephalus
Greenland Sharks cruise at around 0.34m per second (slower than 1mph). This species is known to prey on seals, however Greenland Shark move much slower than seals,
causing scientists to wonder how they hunt. Studies have since revealed that due to its slow speed, the shark may well ‘sneak up’ on seals while they sleep.
Largest shark: Whale Shark Rhincodon typus
It was great fun using the ‘sharkometer’ to find out about different species and
sizes of shark. We were amazed how many sharks there are in the seas around
the British Isles. (We are pleased there are no Great White or Tiger Sharks!)
The Whale Shark easily wins the title of largest living fish species, and can grow to over 17m in length
(with larger individuals reported but not confirmed) and weigh more than 20 tonnes. This huge
filter-feeding shark can be found in tropical climates and feeds on zooplankton as well as tiny fish.
We want there to be Marine Conservation Zones to protect marine life. We had
a debate about setting up a conservation zone in Studland Bay to protect the
habitat of seahorses. We have learnt that there are lots of issues and different
points of view. We do think marine life must be protected. We think the work
the Shark Trust does is very important.
Smallest shark: Dwarf Lanternshark Etmopterus perryi
This tiny deepwater species is found in the Caribbean Sea and reaches a
maximum length of just 21cm making it one of the smallest shark species known
to science. In fact, more than 70% of sharks are smaller than the height of an average man.
Weirdest shark: Goblin Shark Mitsukurina owstoni
Best wishes,
Rebecca, Holly, Evan and Toby.
(School Council)
Whale Shark
© Hannah Tarrant.
Now this category is down to personal choice, but the Shark Trust decided on the Goblin Shark. Found in deepwater on outer continental shelves and seamounts, this species is
pinkish-white in colour due to blood vessels underneath their semi-transparent skin. To make it even weirder, the Goblin Shark has a very long snout with extendable jaws which
it extends when feeding to bring prey items to its mouth.
Largest teeth relative to size: Largetooth Cookiecutter Shark Isistius plutodus
At only 42cm in length, this species has 29 teeth in the upper jaw and 17–19 in the lower jaw. The lower teeth are massive and are the largest in comparison to body size of any
living shark. This species feeds by cutting circular pieces of flesh from larger marine mammals, fish and others sharks, and have even caused problems for submarines.
Images. © Droxford Junior School.
Highest leaping:
Shark Fin Soup
Longest tail:
I had to write a protest ballad for my English homework and straight away I thought I was
going to do it about shark finning. I was hoping you could publish it in Shark Focus.
Deepest shark:
The sharks love to swim in the sea,
After all that’s where they’re meant to be,
But then they’re dragged onto a boat,
Just so all the humans can gloat.
Portuguese Dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis
This species can be found on or near the bottom of the continental slope and abyssal plain in depths ranging from 270–3,700m, making it the deepest-living shark known.
Shallowest shark:
Lewis Thompson sent the Shark Trust a drawing of his favourite shark - the Great White!
Read more about Lewis’ fantastic efforts fund-raising for the Trust on p.11.
Epaulette Shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum
This shark inhabits coral reefs in shallow water and tidepools and can survive barely submerged, using
its pectoral fins to ‘walk’ over the reef. Epaulette Sharks have evolved to cope with oxygen depletion in
tidal pools by increasing the blood supply to the brain and shutting down non-essential neural functions.
Longest migration:
Blue Shark Prionace glauca
Epaulette Shark
© Hannah Tarrant.
Blue Sharks are a highly migratory species found world-wide in temperate and tropical oceans. Tagging studies have demonstrated
that Atlantic Blue Sharks are capable of undertaking numerous trans-Atlantic migrations and that Pacific Blue Sharks can migrate over 5,700 miles (9,200km).
The sharks are dumped back in the sea,
Now it’s not where they’re meant to be,
‘Cos no water is flowing through their gills,
They’ll soon be extremely ill.
Most aerobatic:
Spinner Shark Carcharhinus brevipinna
The Spinner Shark earns its name by performing a spectacular spinning leap out of the water as part of its feeding strategy. When feeding on schools of fish, they will speed
through the water vertically while spinning and erupt from the water, turning on its axis up to four times before landing back in the water.
Most famous:
So next time when you go out for Chinese,
Make sure you check please,
That you can’t see a single fin,
And if you do, tell them it’s a sin.
Great White Shark by Lewis Thompson (age 10).
By Pippa Burdis (age 12)
Twickenham, London.
12
Common Thresher Shark Alopias vulpinus
The upper lobe of the caudal fin on the Common Thresher Shark comprises approximately 52% of its total length (so on a 6m fish, that’s quite substantial!). The tail is used
almost like a whip to stun prey while hunting.
Shark Fin Soup
They’re stripped of every single fin,
And sold for twenty pence a tin,
It’s even worse than chickens in a coop,
That’s the thing with shark fin soup.
Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus
This title also gets awarded to the Shortfin Mako for reputedly leaping 6m in the air when breaching. Combine this act with being one of the fastest sharks, and it’s no surprise
that the Shortfin Mako has a reputation as one of the most powerful fish in the ocean.
White Shark Carcharodon carcharias
This competition wouldn’t be complete without the appearance of the White Shark, possibly the most
famous of them all. When many people hear the word ‘shark’ they also hear the infamous two notes that
accompany the species in the 1975 cult film Jaws. This wide-ranging shark can be found in most oceans,
is an expert hunter and can breach clean out of the water in a phenomenal display of power.
White Shark
© Hannah Tarrant.
If you can think of any other sharks that deserve a medal, or want to contest the
‘weirdest shark’ category then write and let us know!
www.sharktrust.org/education
Shark Focus 44
Shark Focus 44
www.sharktrust.org/education 13
Demon Fish: Travels Through
the Hidden World of Sharks
Fish out of Water
A Modern Retrospective, the latest exhibition by Damien Hirst, saw the media and art critics alike lining up to pass
comment on Hirst’s work and even judgement on its validity as art. Never far from controversy, it was no surprise that
concerns were raised yet again by individuals and groups opposed to Hirst’s macabre use of animals.
One of Hirst’s best known installations is a shark. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living
was first presented in 1991 and was at the time described as an iconic natural history piece. On display again for the first
time since 2003 the shark, a Tiger Shark suspended in formaldehyde, is intended to encourage the viewer to explore their
greatest fears.
by Juliet Eilperin
Animal Inside Out
Meanwhile across the Thames a second exhibition opened its doors. Animal Inside Out is
the Natural History Museum’s ground breaking exhibit of over 100 ‘skinned’ animals. Devised by Professor Gunther von Hagens, this exhibit
of plastinated animals and capillary specimens is not
intended to shock but to inspire. Two sharks,
including a Porbeagle, are on display (the Porbeagle
outlined entirely in its dense network of blood vessels)
alongside a variety of other species including gorilla,
elephant, goats and hares.
Animal Inside Out is a chance to view, up-close, two species of shark whose presence in British waters comes as a
surprise to many. Although both sharks are native to UK and Irish seas, their preference for deeper, offshore waters gives
them a much lower profile than, for example, the more charismatic Basking Shark. To enable the museum to exhibit the
sharks, the specimens have been through a complicated process called plastination where the tissues and organs of the
specimens are slowly saturated with polymers. The specimen is then positioned and finally is hardened
using gas, light or heat depending on the material used. The results are certainly striking.
This specimen demonstrates
that sharks have two kinds of
muscle: red muscle for endured
activity and white muscle for
short bursts of energy. ©
Gunther von Hagens, Institute
for Plastination, Heidelberg,
Germany www.bodyworlds.com.
In the spring of 2005, an American scientist
named Ellen Pikitch invited me to join her and
other researchers in Bimini, an island in the
Bahamas. When I got into the water with a
group of these ancient creatures off Triangle
Rocks, and saw how they swept through the
water with their graceful, torpedo-shaped
bodies, I wanted to see more of them. I was
also struck by the fact that while humans tend
to be obsessed with sharks, we’re simply an
afterthought for them. When they are in their
natural element, seeking their prey in the
ocean, we are not their target.
Macabre reputations
Hirst and von Hagens works provide the public with a unique opportunity to appreciate
large specimens of these iconic, yet vulnerable species in incredible detail.
Both Hirst and von Hagens have macabre reputations,
but while one exhibit generated letters of concern,
the other was launched without comment. Is this merely an artefact of Hirst’s media
exposure? Or is one exhibit seen as science,
while the other considered by some as
distasteful art? The British public has a long held fascination with
natural history and scientific specimens, electing to
view jar after jar of plants and animals preserved in
alcohol or formaldehyde and often stunningly displayed.
So what is it about Hirst’s shark that makes it so different? Is it that the shark was allegedly caught to order,
replacing the previous ‘specimen’ which had deteriorated? Is it that the shark is
purely aesthetic, not contributing to the development of our collective understanding
of natural history? Or is it the price tag that is so often associated with Hirst’s work
that challenges people’s convictions?
Dates of exhibitions:
A Modern Retrospective, Tate Modern, London, 4th April - 9th September 2012
www.tate.org.uk
Porbeagle Lamna nasus
During the plastination process
coloured liquid resin is injected in
the main arterial network. When
the surrounding tissue is removed
a perfect highway of vessels is
revealed. © Gunther von Hagens,
Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg,
Germany www.bodyworlds.com.
Animal Inside Out, the Natural History Museum, London, 6th April – 16th September 2012
www.nhm.ac.uk
14
I hadn’t planned on plunging into
the world of sharks.
Send in your stories to enquiries@sharktrust.org
Juliet Eilperin with a juvenile Lemon Shark in Bimini.
© Juliet Eilperin.
Shark Focus 44
Shark Focus 44
Papua New Guinea shark caller. © Juliet Eilperin.
That one experience launched me on a global odyssey,
to discover how our relationship with sharks has evolved
over time and across geographic boundaries and cultures.
I started by reaching out to marine biologists working in
the field, from North America to Europe, Africa, Asia and
Australia, where sharks swim. Their research, in turn, led
me to what I call “the water’s edge”—the place where we
interact with sharks, whether it is by conducting a ritual,
setting a longline, stepping into a cage lowered into the
sea, or slurping up a shark’s remains in a bowl of soup.
Before sharks terrified us, we worshipped them. They
represented gods in ancient societies, where their power
to destroy us demanded respect. Sharks played a role in
these cultures’ rituals and their creation stories, helping
explain humans’ relationship to the natural world. In Fiji the
people had a shark god called Dakuwaqa that was seen
as the direct ancestor of their high chiefs; the Japanese
paid homage to a shark they considered the God of Storms;
the Hawaiians still view the shark as an animal deity that
serves as their most powerful guardian angel, aumãkua.
Sharks and rays also played a key role in the way Australian
aboriginals living along the coast viewed the creation of their
world and their own ancestors. The Yolngu peoples – who
live in northeastern Arnhem Land – are divided into clans,
but many of these clans claim to have descended from a
freshwater bull, or whaler, shark known as Mäna.
I journeyed to Papua New Guinea, the last, modernday outpost of shark worship. Selam Karasimbe calls
himself “the world-famous shark caller,” someone who
can connect to the spirits of his ancestors which inhabit
the current natural world. He does this through an
extraordinary way – by shaking a coconut rattle, catching
a shark in a snare, and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
At this point many Papua New Guineans see shark calling
as a divine right, one of the few skills they boast that no
other civilization can offer. They argue that their ability to
lure sharks from the deep – and catch them by hand using
snares – represents a unique culture that should not be
snuffed out by either colonization or modernization.
But this practice is in danger of disappearing, for the same
www.sharktrust.org/news reasons that now roughly a third of all shark species face
the threat of extinction. Large-scale industrial trawlers are
wiping out sharks off Papua New Guinea’s coasts, in order
to help supply the growing Asian demand for shark’s fins
that compose the essential ingredient in shark fin soup.
Papua New Guinea is not the only place where this is
happening. In the tiny fishing village of Las Barrancas, I
watched as Francisco and Armando Bareno, two brothers,
hauled in nearly two dozen mako and Blue Sharks. Once they
were done cutting off the fins from the rest of the sharks’
bodies, and drying them they would fetch 1,000 pesos, or
about 100 U.S. dollars, per kilo. By contrast, the fresh shark
meat they sold to the wholesalers waiting with a truck on the
beach would be just 15 pesos, or $1.50 U.S., a kilo.
But I also witnessed the possibilities the world still
holds for sharks. In Indonesia’s Raja Ampat, researchers
from Conservation International and The Nature
Conservancy are discovering new shark species – and
working with local villagers and regional authorities
to protect them. At Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Fl.,
scientists are learning how sharks move underwater,
and how they smell their prey. And in both Mexico’s Isla
Holbox and South Africa’s Gansbaai, area residents are
developing an economic model where the tourists who
want to see sharks alive will pay more than the fin traders
who want them dead.
The story of sharks – which predate dinosaurs, and swam
the seas before the continents took their current shape
– remains partly unwritten. And how it turns out has
significant implications for our future, as well as theirs.
We may be at the tipping point for sharks, as well as for
the ocean as a whole. By understanding our connection to
this global predator, we can begin to rethink the way we
treat the sea. Plus, it makes a dip in the water a lot more
relaxing, even with a few toothy creatures in our midst.
Juliet Eilperin is The Washington Post’s national
environmental reporter and the author of “Demon Fish:
Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks,” published by
Duckworth in January. (http://www.demonfishbook.com)
15
Fishing to
the limit
A maximum sustainable yield for sharks?
John Richardson
The Shark Trust
An end to over-exploitation?
MSY is not a new concept, with the EU endorsing its use as
far back as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Seas,
a position then reiterated in 1995, 2002 and 20102. Despite
this, the EU has lagged behind other fishing nations in the
actual application of MSY. The central objective of MSY is to
eliminate over-exploitation of fish stocks. In simple terms, overexploitation arises from the necessity for commercial fishing
vessels to maximise profit from each trip. Initially this is achieved
by targeting species of high value. As high-value stocks are
depleted, fishing effort is continuously redirected towards smaller,
historically less valuable species – in a sense, ‘fishing down the
food-chain’.
The consequence is a ‘tragedy of the commons’ scenario, as
fishermen (and governments) compete to return a profit – and
earn a living – from a dwindling, less productive resource.
Damaged fish stocks leave fishermen facing unreliable,
sub-optimal catches, increasingly dominated by smaller and
less valuable fish1. When these fish fail to meet size or quota
restrictions imposed to manage remaining stocks, or are
unprofitable to fishermen under increasing financial pressure,
they are discarded back into the sea, adding an emotive element
to an already complex issue.
Is MSY suitable for sharks?
As the EU moves towards adopting a reformed Common Fisheries Policy in 2013,
the concept of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) is being promoted as a tool for
sustainably harvesting a broad range of fish stocks throughout EU waters. Changes
in the way EU fisheries are managed cannot come soon enough. Of stocks assessed
in the Northeast Atlantic, 63% are considered overfished, a figure that rises to 82%
in the Mediterranean and four of the six stocks assessed in the Baltic Sea1.
Focusing in on sharks*, halting over-exploitation is of critical importance. In
terms of shark conservation, EU waters have the worst status of any region in the
world, with approximately one-third of European shark species listed in threat
categories on the IUCN Red List. As MSY continues to hold the limelight, the Shark
Trust has sought expert opinion on its relevance to sharks, with a view to answering
the question: can shark conservation goals be realised through MSY, or are they
mutually exclusive?
16
www.sharktrust.org
In theory the MSY concept will produce environmentally and
financially sustainable fisheries – providing larger fish, fewer (or
no) discards and potentially better returns for fishermen. However
there are a number of uncertainties surrounding its application
in shark fisheries. Most prominent is the major differences in life
strategy between sharks and teleost (or bony) fishes. Most, if not
all fisheries management tools were developed to manage the
more valuable teleost stocks (i.e. cod, mackerel), the majority
of which pursue what biologists call an r-selected life strategy.
r-selected species thrive in unpredictable environments, and
exhibit high fecundity, rapid growth rates, small size and high
natural mortality. Sharks, in contrast, are known as K-selected,
and make up a group more successful in stable marine
environments, where they differ from the teleosts in their much
lower fecundity, slower growth, larger size and low rate of natural
mortality.
Shark populations also differ in that we know comparatively
less about their life-histories and biology, presenting opportunities
for ‘grey areas’ when FMSY is determined. This results from a
historical focus on more valuable teleost fisheries, with little or
no management of shark stocks until the mid-2000’s, as well as
the inherent difficulties in studying highly migratory, often oceanic
predators. Indeed, as more shark populations and shark fisheries
are placed under the scientific spotlight, they are demonstrating a
generally low resilience to commercial fishing across the board.
Add to this that in UK and most EU waters, sharks are taken
in multi-species fisheries, as incidental catch. Can the MSY
approach be successfully applied in a multi-species fishery?
If FMSY in a multi-species fishery is set to the most vulnerable
species – in this case sharks – can that fishery remain financially
viable for commercial fishermen2? Consider too, sharks’ more
robust physiology: because sharks survive discarding significantly
better than teleost fishes, is the MSY approach, which avoids and
minimises discards, of long-term benefit to shark populations?
References
1. Oceans 2012. 2011. To MSY and beyond: achieving healthy stocks to achieve
healthy seas. http://www.ocean2012.eu.
2. European Commission. 2012. CFP reform – Maximum Sustainable Yield.
Why should the new policy be based on Maximum Sustainable Yield 2015?
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/reform/docs/msy_en.pdf.
* All reference to ‘sharks’ should be considered to represent all Chondrichthyan
fish (sharks, skates, rays and chimaera) unless otherwise stated.
Shark Focus 44
FMSY and Elasmobranchs
1
Graham Johnston
Chair of the ICES Working Group on Elasmobranch Fishes.
FMSY is a target level of fishing, and it is now the
primary indicator used by ICES1 when assessing
its stocks, as well as by other Regional Fisheries
Management Organisations2 worldwide.
FMSY, although yet another acronym in a science that is
full of them, is actually a fairly straightforward concept.
There are a couple of fundamental ideas behind it. The
first is that every fish stock can be fished, providing a
yield. The next idea is that this can be done sustainably.
Finally, there is a level of fishing intensity which provides
the biggest catch while maintaining a sustainable stock.
The measure of fishing intensity in this case is known
as fishing mortality, F, while the highest catch is the
maximum sustainable yield. Put all these together and
you get FMSY.
This point is best illustrated in Figure 1, below. The
Maximum Sustainable Yield together with Spawning
Stock Biomass (SSB) are shown. In this hypothetical
example FMSY can be calculated as around 0.25 (where 1
= 100% mortality).
FMSY as a concept can be applied to every fish stock.
Practically, however, there are a couple of problems
when applying FMSY to elasmobranchs. Firstly, it is very
difficult to age sharks, skates and rays. Knowing the age
distribution of a stock is one of the most useful pieces
of information in stock assessment, and therefore in
calculating FMSY. This is usually done by looking at bony
structures, such as the otoliths or ear-stones, under
a microscope. As elasmobranchs are cartilaginous,
and therefore don’t have these bony structures, we are
usually missing a piece of information that is available to
those who work with cod, plaice etc. Therefore, instead
of having a direct measure of FMSY we usually have to use
proxies. These can be other variations of F, such as F0.1
or Fmax, or variations in life history, such as changes in
maximum length, Lmax.
Yield and SSB
1000
Yield
SSB
MSY
500
500
Yield 250
0
SSB
0
0
0.5
1
Other, non-aged based information can be used. Catch
Per Unit Effort (CPUE) is a valuable tool. For this we need
species-specific information from the fishing industry.
Historically different species of ray and skate used to
be landed together and would appear in the landings
statistics as “Skates and rays” or similar labels. This
made it difficult to assess species individually. Recent
EU legislation requires most ray species to be landed
individually and there is a high level of compliance by the
fishing industry. This information can be used to give us
another measure of Fishing Mortality (F) and we can use
this to calculate FMSY.
The other problem we have is the current state of
some shark stocks. Compared to the historic biomass,
some of these are now at very low levels. In these cases
it will take a very long time for stocks to recover to a level
within safe biological limits. There is a Total Allowable
Catch (TAC) of zero for Spurdog Squalus acanthias, to
allow the stock to rebuild. As you can see from Figure
2, the current level of the stock is around 10% of
what it was during the first half of the 20th century. For
stocks such as these, any measure of FMSY is not really
appropriate in the short-term, until they rebuild to a
healthy level. When they are within safe biological limits,
a sustainable yield could in theory be achieved. But when
a stock is far outside safe biological limits, MSY is not an
option.
Other elasmobranch stocks are considered to be
quite healthy. Survey catches of Smallspotted Catshark,
Scyliorhinus canicula, are stable or increasing
throughout the Northeast Atlantic. While you may
not immediately think of these as a stock, they are
commercially caught, and so FMSY can be applied.
The concept of FMSY can be applied to any stock, be it
bony fish or elasmobranch. The practical aspects may
not be as simple to apply to sharks, but the concept
remains. ICES Expert Groups such as WKLIFE3 are
developing procedures that can use life history traits
other than age, to create models that can be used to
calculate appropriate proxies. Using these proxies, and
with more commercial information available to the
scientific models, the FMSY concept may be applied to
elasmobranch catches over the coming years.
Paul Trebilcock
Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’
Organisation and Chairman of the National
Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations.
The fishing industry, along with NGOs, is currently
wrestling with the many challenges involved in ensuring
that late maturing and slow growing shark populations
receive protection consistent with sustainable stocks.
The specific problems of applying an MSY approach
to shark species relates, in part, to the difficulties in
assessing total populations of these widely distributed
species. Without this information it is difficult to arrive at
safe conclusions as to a safe level of out-take. The usual
problems of managing a stock to MSY within a multispecies fishery are also relevant.
tonnes
Fishing Mortality
Figure 1 (above). Maximum Sustainable Yield, showing Yield
and Spawning Stock Biomass. Figure courtesy ICES.
Figure 2 (right): Spurdog biomass. Hatched lines show two
standard deviations. Source: ICES Advice October 2011,
Spurdog in the North East Atlantic.
Footnotes:
1. ICES: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.
2. For example, ICCAT – the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
3. WKLIFE: ICES Workshop on the development of assessments based on
LIFE history traits and exploitation characteristics.
Shark Focus 44
2
1,000,000
500,000
0
0
1920
1940
1960
year
1980
2000
www.sharktrust.org Image captions and credits
Main image: Blue Sharks on Vigo Fishmarket.
© Sonja Fordham.
Background image: Spiny Dogfish. Image © Andy Murch.
Inset illustration: Spiny Dogfish. © Marc Dando.
Image 1: Fishing boats. © Jean-Pierre Bazard.
Image 2: Trawling. © NOAA.
17
Web News
16th EEA Conference
The launch of the new website draws nearer and while there’s still
much to do before November we are pleased with the developments
so far and can’t wait for you to see them. We’re busy preparing
new content and making refinements to the site, although there is
still time to implement any new ideas, so if you have any further
suggestions do get in touch.
Milan, Italy: 22nd – 25th November
We are also looking for potential volunteers to proof and test the site
once we go live later in the year. If you have some spare time and
this is something that interests you please email me at hannah@
sharktrust.org and I’ll add you to our growing list of volunteers. Once
we go live I’ll assign you a section of the website to either proof or
test and ask for your feedback. We’d love to know your thoughts and
are keen to make the site as informative and engaging as possible.
A year ago Shark Trust Chairman, Richard
Peirce, travelled to Beijing to present ‘Shark
Champion’ awards to Messrs’ Ding Liguo, Wan
Jie and Jim Zhang, who had proposed moves in
both Chinese Government legislative assemblies
to ban the import of shark fins into mainland
China [see Shark Focus issue 41].
Social Media
Our Facebook forum has been buzzing in anticipation of the digitally
re-mastered launch of the controversial film ‘Jaws’, which was rereleased in UK cinemas this month, 37 years after its premier. The
re-release has raised some interesting issues about the film and its
impact on shark conservation:
Milan Civic Aquarium. © Mauro Mariani.
The 16th European Elasmobranch Association Conference will be hosted by the
Italian Science Group on Chondrichthyan Fishes (Gruppo Ricercatori Italiani sugli
Squali, Razze e Chimere; GRIS) in Milan, Italy. The conference will be held at the
Civic Aquarium and the University of Milan – both in the city centre – from the
22nd to the 25th November 2012. At the conclusion of the conference a trip to
Lake Como is arranged.
Ed Cummings - My old English teacher is still scared about
swimming in the sea even off the coast of the UK.
Seven Tenths – I think it was a big mistake ... Whenever I
speak to people about the beauty of sharks they always refer
back to ‘the killing machine’ in Jaws ... Big shame! Don’t think it
will have the same effect now as the damage has already been
done.
Greg Goff - I loved watching this on the big screen for the first
time, having been born two years after its original release. I
think it was what sparked my love of sharks, but I do worry
it might spark a new generation of people that hate and fear
sharks in an irrational rather than measured way, and fail
to see their beauty and importance in a delicately balanced
and finely tuned ecosystem, the likes of which we are only
just discovering – although even Peter Benchley regretted the
effects of the film, trying to ‘undo’ his and Spielberg’s work until
his sad death a few years ago.
Sarah Nicholls - I saw the film 37 years ago in Australia and
went last night to see it again on the big screen here in the UK,
there were six people in the cinema! Needless to say we got
together afterwards to chat about it. Can’t get enough of Bruce!
2012 SHARK
CHAMPION
awards
Anyone with an interest in sharks, skates and rays is welcome to attend. Contributions on
all aspects of chondrichthyan research are welcome, with emphasis given to the role of
the elasmobranchs in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The MSFD is a
fundamental step towards the sustainable management and conservation of marine resources
and habitats, and will guide future European marine research.
Visit www.sibm.it/NUOVO_GRIS/home.html or www.eulasmo.org to register for EEA 2012 and
submit abstracts. Registration and abstract submissions (for oral presentations and posters)
close on 30th September.
Students should note that the EEA provides four travel bursaries of up to €250 for students
giving oral presentations at the conference. Applications must be received no later than
15th October. To apply for a student bursary contact Mrs Glenys Heafield at the Shark Trust
glenys@sharktrust.org.
“This is another very significant step. China consumes
around 95% of the world’s shark fin production. By
ceasing consumption at government functions the
Chinese Government is setting an example and sending
out a powerful message.”
Shark Champion Ding Liguo was the main sponsor of this
latest move and his efforts, and those of this colleagues,
are being widely recognised.
For the last six years the movement to regulate Chinese
shark fin consumption has gathered pace. WildAid has
been at the forefront of this movement and has been
working with many high profile figures such as former
NBA superstar Yao Ming and Sir Richard Branson. The
Shark Trust is pleased to add its weight to this issue,
complementing WildAid’s work in raising awareness of
shark conservation in China.
Username: Blind
Password: Shark
Upcoming Events:
27th July: Polzeath Shark Day
The Polzeath Voluntary Marine Conservation
Area (VMCA) will play host to a ‘Shark Day’,
attended by the Shark Trust.
Danny and Cathie Aslan too are long-standing members
of the Shark Trust, also joining in 2001. Both Danny and
Cathie are experienced divers, able to relate stories on
any number of shark encounters from around the world.
Through diving, shark conservation has become their
passion. As well as producing films highlighting the critical
issues facing sharks, the Aslan’s have long supported
the work of the Shark Trust through fundraising and
promotion. In 2012, the Trust is pleased to recognise Danny
and Cathie’s dedication with a Shark Champion award.
● Late registration (but not late abstract submissions) accepted (€40 late fee).
Visit www.sibm.it/NUOVO_GRIS/home.html or www.eulasmo.org for more details on EEA 2012.
Shark Trust members since 2001, Lisa and Stacey
Burnett are experienced divers with logbooks full of shark
encounters from around the world. Lisa and Stacey
have also employed a more hands-on approach to shark
conservation, having been integral members of the Shark
Trust team at every London and Birmingham Dive Show
since 2001. Anyone involved in these shows will know the
hard work and commitment necessary to make them a
success for the Trust. In light of this, the Shark Trust is
acknowledging Lisa and Stacey’s dedication with a Shark
Champion award.
© Spike Brown.
● Registration and abstract submissions close 30th September.
Members Login
© Spike Brown.
I qualified as a nurse in Oxford, where
I met my late husband and Trustee of
the Shark Trust, Grant Bates. My first
encounter with sharks was off Ras
Mohammed 30 years ago, when shoals
of hammerheads swam over us. We were
lucky enough to dive together for 33 years
in many parts of the world. The most
memorable diving trip was to Sipidan,
staying on the island. Throughout this
time, we became increasingly aware of
the alarming reduction in shark numbers.
This motivated us both to find out what
was happening and to try and help.
14th September: Shark Trust 15th
Anniversary
Key Dates:
● Student bursary applications close 15th October.
The Shark Trust is pleased to introduce
Sue Bates, the newest member of the
Board of Trustees. Below, Sue outlines
just what sparked her interest in shark
conservation:
The next issue of Shark Focus will present a
more in-depth analysis of progress in China.
Situated in the northeast of the country, Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the main
industrial, commercial and financial centre of the country. The city is also recognized as a major
world fashion and design capital, as well as home to a number of important museums, theatres
and landmarks (including UNESCO World Heritage Sites). As one of southern Europe’s key
transport hubs, getting to and from Milan is no problem, with excellent air and rail links.
Join the debate at: www.facebook.com/thesharktrust
The Shark Trust
welcomes
Sue Bates
The Shark Trust’s 2012 Shark Champion awards
will be presented to two couples whose dedication
to both the Trust and shark conservation in
general, has been considerable and long-standing.
Since then the Trust has followed developments in China
and was encouraged to learn from Jim Zhang of moves to
ban the serving of shark fin soup at state functions. This
has now moved a step further with an official declaration
from China’s State Council that within one to three years
it will draft and issue guidelines instructing all levels of
all government agencies to stop serving shark fin soup at
public functions. Richard Peirce commented:
Trev Blackmore - Jaws originally instigated my interest in
marine ecology and conservation biology; 20 years later I’m
now completing a Masters degree in marine biology. I’m thrilled
it’s back on the big screen and, while I recognise the negative
connotations associated with the film for some, I hope that it
inspires others to follow the same path I did.
Joanne Roberts - Jaws is my favourite film of all time and I
can watch it over and over again. In its early days it portrayed
sharks in a negative light but nowadays it doesn’t have the
same effect. Even the author of the book worked with shark
conservation. People are more educated and have seen sharks
in a more positive light which they deserve. I doubt the film’s
re-release will have a detrimental effect.
Progress in
China
Copyright Rachel Ball/Liverpool Museum
The Shark Trust was established in 1997 and
this year will celebrate its 15th anniversary.
A special event will take place at Plymouth
National Marine Aquarium as part of the
Marine City Festival which is running from 8th
– 16th September.
27th – 28th October: NEC Dive Show
Hosted by Diver Magazine, the Trust will
again be promoting shark conservation at the
Birmingham NEC over the weekend.
22nd – 25th November: EEA
Conference, Milan See p.18.
© Chee Hong.
18
www.eulasmo.org Shark Focus 44
Shark Focus 44
www.sharktrust.org/events
19
Sharks are keystone species
in our oceans. These apex
predators are essential in
maintaining the health,
balance and structure of
marine ecosystems: sharks
maintain the diversity of other
species by keeping populations
in check and reducing
competition lower down the
food chain. Without sharks,
the balance of the marine
environment is threatened.
www.sharktrust.org
Whale Sharks Rhincodon typus and bait ball © Gareth Millson.
ecosystem
balance