Shark Conservation Legislation Passed!

From the RTSea Blog this week and Richard Theiss who's always a great source of eco news:

Here's some goods news as a follow-up to my posting on July 4th regarding pending legislation that should have a positive impact on shark fishing and finning: It passed!

HR 5471 (background)
Announcement on bill passing (Oceana.org)

Ensenada Fish Market, Mexico Y.O.Y

We got quite a few private emails this week from divers and from those that did not or could not believe white shark pups were for sale at the Ensenada Fish Market.

Here's another look. It's an ongoing issue and one best reviewed by the locals in Ensenada. There are many government agencies that oversee fisheries management within walking distance of this market yet in the few years we have been documenting this-more of these animals have been showing up for sale.

Typically these young of the year are sold as swordfish. Many times the skin is ripped off so identification is almost impossible...that's if you know where to look for the skin.

Until Mexico decides to effect change, this is the continuing fate of white shark pups here at this site. Unfortunately these are not Mako pups on display.

Aussies and sharks-Taking back the streets

You know, we have covered this about a million times, but now it looks like Australians are taking back the streets and oceans with new non lethal anti-shark tech. As always there's a catch:

In what is claimed to be a world-first, scientists from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and James Cook University have shown magnets can repel sharks.

It is hoped the magnets will keep sharks out of fishing nets set for barramundi.

Trials have been conducted in controlled conditions in Cairns. The research team will soon conduct field trials to determine the practical use of magnets in the gillnet fishery.

The researchers do not believe the magnetic repulsion will prevent shark attacks on people.

Famous Shark Cage To Be Unveiled At Aquarium Sunday

The One, The Only, cage that started it all "Blue Water-White Death". A classic film for sharky types is now on display...just in time for Shark Week. If we had a bigger office we would buy it...heck if we were ever in the office:

Even in print, the flashback to the summer of 1975 and the blockbuster movie, “Jaws” gets the heart racing. For some, either Peter Benchley’s novel or Stephen Spielberg’s film are the reason they won’t get in the water more than three decades later.

There may be no other creatures in the animal world more feared and more misunderstood than sharks. Visitors at the Tennessee Aquarium get an up close view of the powerful bodies, strong and tooth-filled jaws of sandbar and sand tiger sharks in the Secret Reef.