Our selection of top shark stories, highlighting the latest news and discoveries from around the world...

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Why the discovery of rare skate eggs has conservationists all in a flap

1st May

It is one of the world’s most endangered species, rarely spotted due to decades of over-fishing. The white skate was once a regular sight around the waters of the UK, but is now on an international red list of threatened species. Two rare finds in Argyll suggests that conservation measures, including a ban on fishing or harming the species, could be helping its recovery.

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Shark Teeth Can Resist Ocean Acidification

1st May

Over the last century, the rapid increase of carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere thanks to the combustion of fossil fuels has led to an observed increase in acidity and surface temperature of seawater. Professor Sean Connell from the University of Adelaide set out to answer the question of whether or not ocean acidification and warming had an effect on the mechanical properties of shark teeth “because theory suggested that ocean acidification might reduce the strength of shark teeth and their ability to feed themselves.”

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Abu Dhabi discovers new species of eagle ray

2nd May

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi on Tuesday announced it has discovered a new species of eagle ray in the emirate's waters. The new species can be distinguished from the blue-banded eagle ray and banded eagle ray by having a larger number of pale-blue bands across its dorsal surface (8-10 bands), a larger number of tooth plate rows, and a shorter tail.

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Biologists buoyed by discovery of 4-metre endangered stingray in Cambodia

12th May

A team of marine biologists have welcomed the discovery of a huge endangered freshwater stingray during a recent expedition to a remote stretch of the Mekong River in Cambodia, though they warned the biodiversity of the area was under threat.

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Whale shark study finds collisions with large vessels may be factor in population decline

15th May

A new study out of the United Kingdom is pointing to collisions with large marine vessels as a possible reason for the years-long decline in whale shark populations. Marine biologists from the Marine Biological Association and University of Southampton led the study, started in 2019 and published earlier this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which tracked the movements of ships and whale sharks around the world.

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