Mad as a Marine Biologist

Showing 108 posts tagged shark

High-res This megamouth shark was fished in the Philippines on April 21, 2013. The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is an extremely rare species of deepwater shark, so rare that only over 50 sightings have been recorded since its discovery in 1976. Of the now 56 megamouth sharks recorded worldwide, 11 specimens (20%, most numerous next to Japan) come from the Philippines. The megamouth is the smallest of only three filter-feeding sharks (the others being whale sharks and basking sharks).  Photo from CJ Fives for Butuan Bay Divers.

This megamouth shark was fished in the Philippines on April 21, 2013. The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is an extremely rare species of deepwater shark, so rare that only over 50 sightings have been recorded since its discovery in 1976.

Of the now 56 megamouth sharks recorded worldwide, 11 specimens (20%, most numerous next to Japan) come from the Philippines.

The megamouth is the smallest of only three filter-feeding sharks (the others being whale sharks and basking sharks). 

Photo from CJ Fives for Butuan Bay Divers.

High-res rhamphotheca: EUROPEAN UNION PROHIBITS SHARK FINNING Shark protection groups have applauded the move, saying it marked a key chapter for shark conservation. by AP staff The European parliament on Thursday called a definitive halt to shark finning, the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live body overboard to drown. The EU prohibited shark finning in 2003, but an exemption allowed fishermen with special permits to remove the fins from their carcass out at sea and bring back the remainders or land them in different ports. In March, fisheries ministers endorsed a proposal to force fishermen to bring sharks to port intact, but the measure needed the approval of the parliament. “The measure closes long-standing enforcement loopholes in EU policy on shark finning, will improve the collection of valuable data about shark catches, and will help to prevent the trade of fins from threatened shark species,” the conservation group OCEANA in a statement. Asia’s taste for shark fin soup is viewed as a key threat to sharks, with marine protection groups saying up to 73 million are killed annually to satisfy demand for the delicacy... (read more: Discovery News)           (photo: Corbis) This is HUGE news :D

rhamphotheca:

EUROPEAN UNION PROHIBITS SHARK FINNING

Shark protection groups have applauded the move, saying it marked a key chapter for shark conservation.

by AP staff

The European parliament on Thursday called a definitive halt to shark finning, the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live body overboard to drown.

The EU prohibited shark finning in 2003, but an exemption allowed fishermen with special permits to remove the fins from their carcass out at sea and bring back the remainders or land them in different ports.

In March, fisheries ministers endorsed a proposal to force fishermen to bring sharks to port intact, but the measure needed the approval of the parliament.

“The measure closes long-standing enforcement loopholes in EU policy on shark finning, will improve the collection of valuable data about shark catches, and will help to prevent the trade of fins from threatened shark species,” the conservation group OCEANA in a statement.

Asia’s taste for shark fin soup is viewed as a key threat to sharks, with marine protection groups saying up to 73 million are killed annually to satisfy demand for the delicacy...

(read more: Discovery News)           (photo: Corbis)

This is HUGE news :D

sallysnowglobe:

For all of those that want to find out more about the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project (TSRCP) in the Philippines have a little look at this video, by Steve De Neef which tells you more about what the project does and how you can get involved.  (Also keep your eyes open for Medel Silvosa (the Field Operations Manager) who also featured in my little video way back when in July ;-) love it Medel!) 

Medel, you conservation machine! Artista ka! 

High-res sallysnowglobe: Some super important news from Malapascua HQ in the Philippines…. Volunteer Call Out for the Thresher Shark Research Project! It’s an amazing project based in Malapascua Island. The Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project is a community based non-profit research organization. Our mission is to promote and disseminate shark research, education and conservation to a broad local, regional and international public and scientific outreach. Collectively we bring expertise in shark biology, ecology, ethology (behavior), conservation, scientific diving, coral reefs, oceanography, marine environmental protection and coastal zone management. Our academic competency in the area of thresher shark behavior and biology, and shark cleaning mutualism is unrivalled. Aspiring marine/shark scientists may apply to assist TSRCP in conducting fieldwork. This is a unique opportunity for individuals with a keen interest in marine/shark science to gain hands on experience in shark survey methodology, behavior, biology, ecology and conservation. Volunteer research assistants will be based on Malapascua Island and shuttled to Monad Shoal aboard a dedicated research vessel. Sea operations will run from 05:00 to 20:00 five days a week and include SCUBA survey, underwater video observation, tagging (pending funding) and photographic ID databasing. Evenings will be spent in academics, training, reviewing video observations, analyzing data for scientific paper writing, and preparing for the next day’s ops.  All volunteer research assistants will receive comprehensive hands on training in shark research methodology, marine videography and analytical approaches to behavioral science. Research assistants will also receive academics in shark biology, ecology, conservation and ethology (behavior) and will apply learned concepts to the analysis of real data that they acquire on a daily basis.  VISIT www.threshersharkproject.org or CONTACT Simon Oliver sp.oliver@threshersharkproject.org for details.   (The lovely photo is courtesy of the wonderful Steve de Neef…Here’s a link to more images of all the research the Thresher Shark Project get up to:    http://stevedeneef.photosehelter.com/gallery/The-thresher-sharks-of-Monad-Shoal/G0000AzpQ8D9gLo8 )  This is what I was doing a year ago, and it shaped my life as a diver, a scientist and a conservationist. The project is well worth a look into and they need volunteers, so if you’re at a loose end… well Malapascua Island does not disappoint. It’s more fun in the Philippines, after all. 

sallysnowglobe:

Some super important news from Malapascua HQ in the Philippines….

Volunteer Call Out for the Thresher Shark Research Project!

It’s an amazing project based in Malapascua Island.

The Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project is a community based non-profit research organization. Our mission is to promote and disseminate shark research, education and conservation to a broad local, regional and international public and scientific outreach. Collectively we bring expertise in shark biology, ecology, ethology (behavior), conservation, scientific diving, coral reefs, oceanography, marine environmental protection and coastal zone management. Our academic competency in the area of thresher shark behavior and biology, and shark cleaning mutualism is unrivalled.

Aspiring marine/shark scientists may apply to assist TSRCP in conducting fieldwork. This is a unique opportunity for individuals with a keen interest in marine/shark science to gain hands on experience in shark survey methodology, behavior, biology, ecology and conservation. Volunteer research assistants will be based on Malapascua Island and shuttled to Monad Shoal aboard a dedicated research vessel.
Sea operations will run from 05:00 to 20:00 five days a week and include SCUBA survey, underwater video observation, tagging (pending funding) and photographic ID databasing. Evenings will be spent in academics, training, reviewing video observations, analyzing data for scientific paper writing, and preparing for the next day’s ops. 

All volunteer research assistants will receive comprehensive hands on training in shark research methodology, marine videography and analytical approaches to behavioral science. Research assistants will also receive academics in shark biology, ecology, conservation and ethology (behavior) and will apply learned concepts to the analysis of real data that they acquire on a daily basis. 

VISIT www.threshersharkproject.org or CONTACT Simon Oliver sp.oliver@threshersharkproject.org for details.
 
(The lovely photo is courtesy of the wonderful Steve de Neef…Here’s a link to more images of all the research the Thresher Shark Project get up to:   
http://stevedeneef.photosehelter.com/gallery/The-thresher-sharks-of-Monad-Shoal/G0000AzpQ8D9gLo8 ) 

This is what I was doing a year ago, and it shaped my life as a diver, a scientist and a conservationist. The project is well worth a look into and they need volunteers, so if you’re at a loose end… well Malapascua Island does not disappoint. It’s more fun in the Philippines, after all.