The shark diving industry blog covering sharks, shark cage diving, shark conservation and things we find "amusing" since 2008 www.sharkdiver.com, www.sharkdivers.com, www.divingwithsharks.com
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| "Shredder" my favorite shark. |
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| "Horizon" |
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| "Jacques" |
Back in 2000, when we started diving with great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe, we knew very little about where the sharks were going, when they are not at the Island. I remember the days, when the scientists thought that they went to Shark cafe/Sofa to mate. Thanks to satellite tagging by Dr. Domeier and his team at MCSI, we now know that males and females are not in the same place, same time in that area. Based on tracking data and the white sharks gestation period of 14-18
months, we now think that they are actually mating at Guadalupe Island. |
| Gill Raker's latest location. |
That interest and the fact that our Great White Shark database is in need of pictures of the big, late season females, we have decided to add a special science expedition from November 11- 16.
This expedition is a unique opportunity to participate in growing our database. Should we find a new
shark, which is fairly likely during that time of the year, the group will get the opportunity to name the shark. Imagine
seeing a shark on a future television documentary, knowing you were
there when we first encountered it. All the participants will also get a copy of the photo ID book, containing all the identified
sharks at Isla Guadalupe.
A little while ago, we talked about Project abroad and their involvement with the sharks in Fiji. It is this same organization that is tagging these sharks as well as taking DNA samples for research. Kudos to both Project Abroad and Bequa Adventure Divers for all you do to help understand and protect our sharks. 
SECTION 1.
The legislature finds that sharks and rays are extremely important to
ocean ecosystems. As ocean predators towards the top of the food chain,
sharks and rays keep the ecosystem balanced, regulate populations of
other marine life, and ensure healthy fish stock and reefs.
Just do a search for "shark" on facebook and you get a seemingly endless list of groups that want to save sharks, but most of them do nothing, other than commiserate with each other.Great White shark, cage diving, swimming with sharks  |
| Sir Richard Branson, foto wildaid.org |
You will have the opportunity to dive with Sea Lions, visit
Darwin and Wolf island for a once in a lifetime chance to swim with
Hammerhead - Galapagos- Dusky, Whale- and many other species of
sharks, along with big schools of Tuna and tons of other sea life. You
will also get to do some exciting land tours at North Seymour Islands and Darwin station, where you will encounter the native birds and terrestrial animals of the Galapagos Islands.
We will be diving off the "Nortada" an 85' live aboard dive vessel that offers 4 lower deck, fully air conditioned cabins with two single lower berths each, private heads, lockers and drawers. There are 2 15ft inflatable, zodiak style, tenders that will take us to the individual dive sites. For our safety, all divers will also be provided a waterproof Nautilus Lifeline radio.
I came across a headline on the shanghaiist website. "JAWS NOW IN SHANDONG" Shandong fishermen haul in horrifically giant shark!
Found on the Maldives blog this morning, more good industry news:Protected areas are allocated Baa atoll Hanifaru, Baa atoll An'gafaru and Alif Dhaal atoll Maamigili as protected areas to commemorate World Environment Day and World Ocean Day on the 5 and 8 June respectively.
"We welcome the whale shark sanctuaries," said Ali Rilwan, executive director of environment NGO Bluepeace today. "We don't need paper parks, we need monitoring and more research in these areas." In March, the ministry of fisheries and agricultures extended the moratorium on reef shark fishing to cover the whole of the Maldives as part of a move towards a total ban on both reef and oceanic shark hunting.The main objective of the project was to protect the areas mega fauna, namely whale sharks, Manta rays.
Divided into various zones, in which different activities will be permitted. While diving and snorkeling would still be allowed, a set of guidelines would be provided to instruct on how to deal with encounters with whale sharks.
Further, boats including Liveaboards and dive boats will be subject to speed limits in certain areas, he said.
The reaction of local residents was "very positive". "They actively wanted this to happen and this won't impact any of their activities so they have nothing to lose from this," "That's the findings of the consultation."
The decision would have a "global significance" and the areas were among the few in the world where whale sharks could be spotted.
The polka-dotted whale shark is the largest fish on the planet, but very little is known about their existence, according to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme's website.
While it is known they swim potentially vast distances across the ocean, eating only plankton, tiny fish and squid, how long they live or where they reproduce remains a mystery.
It was crucial to establish a set of guidelines to counter the impact that the growth of tourism would have on whale sharks in future years.
At present, it is estimated that whale shark excursions generate US$10 million annually.
According to researchers Maldives have spotted 115 whale sharks, although the real number was probably higher.
"Some of these areas are important feeding grounds," "And out of all of them, there are only two females, so the animals are only spending part of their lives here."
The designated areas would also protect other animal species such as manta rays in Hanifaru and Gray reef sharks and White tips reef sharks in Baa Atoll An'gafaru.
Where there's a market and demand - people will find sharks:
Tammy Jo Anderson is the education coordinator for UnderWater World Guam and an advocate for sharks. This week she offered a well thought out Op Ed on the reasons for keeping wild shark populations. Here is an excerpt:
