“If we lose all the worlds sharks we will run out of oxygen to breathe”.

The single most stunning moronic conservation quote of the century. Based not in fact, created to help sell a film, and gobbled up like Conservation PEZ by those who trade exclusively in “shark conservation chatter”.

http://sharkdivers.blogspot.com/2012/02/oxygen-shark-myth-debunking-bunkable.html

By Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Director of Science

REEF Fish Survey Project data were recently featured in a paper in the scientific journal PLoS ONE, Large-Scale Absence of Sharks on Reefs in the Greater-Caribbean: A Footprint of Human Pressures. The study’s authors evaluated the status of 14 species of sharks in the Caribbean. In recent decades, large pelagic and coastal shark populations have declined dramatically with increased fishing. However, the status of sharks in other systems such as coral reefs remains largely unassessed despite a long history of exploitation. The paper’s authors used REEF data to explore the contemporary distribution and sighting frequency of sharks on reefs in the greater-Caribbean, and assessed the possible role of human pressures on observed patterns.

The analysis was based on 76,340 underwater surveys carried out by REEF volunteers between 1993 and 2008. REEF data are well suited for rarely seen species like sharks because of the wide geographic coverage by REEF volunteers.The authors compared sighting frequency to the number of people in each area surveyed, and used population viability analyses to assess the effects of exploitation on population trends. Sharks, with the exception of nurse sharks, occurred mainly in areas with very low human population or strong fishing regulations and marine conservation.

Population viability analysis suggests that exploitation alone could explain the large-scale absence; however, this pattern is likely to be exacerbated by additional anthropogenic stressors, such as pollution and habitat degradation, that also correlate with human population. Preventing further loss of sharks requires urgent management measures to curb fishing mortality and to mitigate other anthropogenic stressors to protect sites where sharks still exist. The fact that sharks still occur in some densely populated areas where strong fishing regulations are in place indicates the possibility of success and encourages the implementation of conservation measures.

A PDF of the full paper can be downloaded here. The citation is Ward-Paige CA, Mora C, Lotze HK, Pattengill-Semmens C, McClenachan L, et al. (2010) Large-Scale Absence of Sharks on Reefs in the Greater-Caribbean: A Footprint of Human Pressures. PLoS ONE 5(8): e11968. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011968.

To see a complete list of papers and other publications featuring REEF data, visit the REEF Publications page here:

http://www.reef.org/db/publications

Lee Otten, a filmmaker and producer with Shoot the Breeze Productions in South Africa and has worked with Save Our Seas marine biologist Alison Kock and her husband Morne, to make this remarkable film on both Great Whites and Sevengills in Cape Town: See link below for a superb video on Great Whites and Sevengill sharks in South Africa: http://www.caretakers.co.za/film.php?id=1128

Check out this remarkable video taken by Chuck Patterson off of San Onofre State Beach, from a paddleboard.

This is from Chuck’s Vimeo site:

the day before I shot this video, I was SUP surfing with a couple friends and 2 sharks circled us for about 15 minutes. the next day, I decided to go back out at around the same time and take my GO PRO HD HERO camera (gopro.com) mounted on a 10 ft pole and do some exploring.

Sure enough within 5 minutes a 9 ft shark came out of no where and circled twice and slapped his tail on my board before disappearing. then a minute later a 7 ft young juvenile Great White swam circles around me for 12 minutes. It was an unreal experience that I will cherish forever

Sean van Sommeran of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation has pointed out that, if you look closely at the left side of the shark around minute 1:20, you can see a research tag implanted under the dorsal fin.

Me my Shark and I from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oceana, the world’s largest international conservation organization focused solely on protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, announced today its partnership with Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, which premieres Sunday, August 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

“Sharks deserve widespread attention not only because they are fascinating but also because they are in terrible trouble – each year industrial fishing kills more than 100 million sharks a year ,” said Andy Sharpless, CEO of Oceana. “We applaud Discovery Channel’s efforts to make Shark Week’s millions of viewers know about the threats to sharks, and the need for better policies to protect sharks.”

Discovery is helping Oceana educate the American public about the plight of sharks – and what people can do to help – through blogs, social media outlets and public service announcements that will air each night during primetime. Viewers can look for a PSA for Oceana featuring Craig Ferguson, host of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=31071940568

File Photo Credit: sharkireland.com

Last Friday, on the 4th of June, San Diego diver Brian L Kirkpatrick was  diving with Waterhorse Charters aboard the San Diego charter dive boat the Humboldt. They had just finished a third dive at a dive site called Lobster Shack, on North Island, in the Coronados Islands, Mexico. They had pulled up anchor between 2 and 3 pm and were preparing to depart. Mr. Kirkpatrick was on the fly-bridge with Captain Greg Hatem when they noticed the dorsal fin of a large shark on the surface of the water, about 200 yards from the boat.

To see the Channel 10 interview:

http://www.10news.com/video/23852841/index.html

To view the  original video, go to: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-38501-San-Diego-Scuba-Diving-Examiner~y2010m6d6-San-Diego-diver-takes-remarkable-video-of-Basking-Shark#