News

White Shark numbers are continuing to dwindle off South Africa’s Western Cape. With scientists noting a rapid decline in the last 5 years. A few years ago, researchers would expect to see up to 20 White Sharks a day. These days they say they’re lucky to see that many in a year. But where have they all gone and why?

The cause is still not clear. But as top predators, the disappearance of White Sharks has serious implications for the wider ecosystem.

Whilst researchers are questioning where South Africa’s White Sharks have gone. Those on the East Coast of the US are recording more than ever.

Scientists recorded 118 individual White Sharks off Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 2020, up from only 11 in 2013. Sharks fitted with transmitters are detected using under water acoustic receivers. A total of 231 White Sharks have been tagged since 2010. Data collected show shark activity is greater where seal numbers, one of their favoured prey, is highest.

Scientists believe they’ve identified a previously unknown major ocean extinction event that happened ~19 million years ago. During which, shark diversity declined by over 70%, and shark numbers by over 90%.

These findings, published in Science were obtained from the presence of shark denticles found in sediment cores taken from the Pacific Ocean seafloor. The cause for this extinction event has not yet been determined.

Conservation measures have been tightened for fisheries operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area. Including a complete ban on fishing for the Greenland Shark. Extra measures to minimise bycatch and mortality of this Vulnerable shark have also been put in place. Good news for this long-lived shark that’s thought to live around 400 years!

Positive findings from a recent study of White Sharks off the central Californian coast. Scientists estimate their numbers have increased by as much as 35% over the last decade. It’s not fully understood whether this is down to protections and an increase in prey. Or regional fluctuations. But these findings signify a healthy ecosystem and will feed into the development of further conservation actions for this species.

Divers in Western Australia were treated to an unusual encounter when they spotted a white Nurse Shark on a dive off Rottnest Island. Nurse Sharks are normally grey-brown in colour. It’s thought this individual has a genetic condition called leucism, resulting in a partial loss of pigmentation. It’s not unheard of for animals to have conditions such as leucism or albinism, but it’s very rare to see them! Check out the video footage here.

Members of European Parliament (MEP) Caroline Roose (France), Francisco Guerreiro (Portugal), Grace O'Sullivan (Ireland), and an 38 more have all joined forces. Together they’re calling on the EU Commissioner to follow the science for Shortfin Mako in the North Atlantic.

In their letter to Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, they urged the EU to stop blocking much needed protection for makos at ICCAT this year. Scientific advice that’s has been proposed since 2017 for this Endangered shark.

Check out Caroline Roose’s blog post. You can also read the Shark League’s Press Release, and find out how you can get involved with our Rally4Mako campaign.

Conservationists and Members of the Irish Parliament are calling for legal protection for the Endangered Basking Shark in Irish territorial waters. Known as liamhán mór gréine in Irish, translated as the great fish of the sun, Basking Sharks visit Irish shores every year. Hotspots include Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Donegal.

Despite their annual visits, they currently have no national protection in Ireland. The addition of the world’s second largest shark to the Wildlife Act would make it an offence to intentionally - or recklessly - injure, disturb, or harass a Basking Shark to 12 nm around Ireland.

Good news for 3 species of hammerhead shark, all 3 species of thresher shark and the Silky Shark. All have been officially declared protected species in Costa Rica. So, these species - which are considered threatened with extinction - will now be protected under the Wildlife Conservation Law of Costa Rica.

As a result, it’ll now be illegal to land or sell them commercially or trade them internationally. Before this decree, these sharks were considered commercial species and were fished with minimal restrictions.

Many species of shark carry out mammoth annual migrations, returning to the same locations to mate, pup or feed. All without the help of landmarks. It has long been thought that sharks are sensitive to the Earth’s magnetic fields. Now the latest research confirms it. The next question on the scientists’ lips is how they pick up magnetic fields and the implication human generated fields has on them.