It’s time for another Shark News! Where are they going? What are they doing? What are humans doing to them? We’ve got the latest scoop here at Shark OFF.
In efforts to track and understand Great White’s migration patterns, an organization called OCEARCH tags sharks and tracks their whereabouts! Go check out their website for a list of the sharks, their names/sizes, and where they are in the world. One of their sharks, Andromache, was just pinged off the coast of New Jersey. She was there this time last year and has traveled over 5,000 miles in the past six months alone. Another OCEARCH shark anmed Nukumi may be headed to the East Coast as well, and she’s pregnant! Happy late Mother’s Day, Nukumi!
Meanwhile in SoCal, scientists are finding that Great White’s are much closer than we once anticipated. Carlos Gauna, a drone photographer, captured some amazing footage of the gorgeous creatures hanging out in the springtime waters. The LA Times says “Gauna spots a great white within a minute-and-a-half of launch. The animal weaves languidly in the surf line, about 100 yards from the father and son. “Wow, he’s in the waves,” he says. “That is so pretty.” Gauna goes on to say that there was no cause for concern, and that the sharks have probably always been that close- we just couldn’t see them until now. This just further proves that sharks aren’t always dangerous and attacks only happen under extenuating circumstances.
Heading back east to North Carolina, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science will be hosting a lunchtime lecture entitled A Mission Milestone: Ocearch Expedition Carolinas and the Search for White Sharks off North Carolina.
“Join us as we learn from OCEARCH’s collaborating research team about these elusive apex predators, the role they play in balancing the ocean’s ecosystems, and how you can join OCEARCH’s efforts to address the two largest threats facing our oceans: data deficit and time.”
This is happening today, May 12th, so go check it out on YouTube!
And we’ve saved the best news for last: at the end of April (on Earth Day!) the Shark Fin Trade Ban was reintroduced to Congress! Voice your support of this bill and contact your senators today!
Thanks for tuning in for more Shark News! and as always, lose the fear and love the ocean!