SH

Issue 60
RKfo c u s
THE MAGAZINE OF THE SHARK TRUST
Summer 2018
s h r k fo c u s

5-7 9-11
18-19

In this issue
Welcome to SF#60 – the summer issue
of Shark Focus. Our keynote article on
p.5 profiles Alastair Gibson, a global
pioneer in carbon fibre sculpture.
Following a 30 year career in the motor
sport industry, Alastair is now a full time
artist. The ocean is central to his work
which, as well as utilising his engineering
experience, also incorporates recycled
F1 car parts. Alastair approached the
Trust about creating and then donating
a sculpture. What better shark to
immortalise in carbon fibre and F1 car
20-21
aquariums can be a controversial issue:
on p.22 we speak to the Director of North
Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores,
Hap Fatzinger, for his perspective on the
contribution of public aquariums to shark
conservation.
We catch up with Rob Deaville - Project
Manager for the UK Cetacean Strandings
Investigation Programme on p.18. Rob
discusses how his work can shed
light on not only how stranded marine
animals have died, but also how they
22-23
takes us diving in Raja Ampat,
Indonesia’s first shark sanctuary. We
introduce some new faces on the
Shark Trust team, and provide your
global shark news, policy updates,
housekeeping and fundraising. Finally,
we review Shark Attacks. Myths,
Misunderstandings and Human Fear,
published last year in Australia.
So, find a place in the shade and
immerse yourself in all things shark!
Photography & Dave Peake

lived. On p.20 we hear from the Maldives

parts than the fastest shark in the ocean
– the Shortfin Mako! Whale Shark Research Programme and Meet the SH RK focus
shark gang!
Issue 60
THE MAGAZINE OF THE

Point Blue Conservation Science on how

Summer 2018 SHARK TRUST

The Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt
remains one of the UK’s most popular
marine citizen science projects. The
project has come a long way since
2003 – swapping paper recording forms
the Shark Trust’s adoption programmes
are directly supporting conservation
Our exciting new range has arrived in the
store
initiatives in the Maldives and California’s
Farallon Islands.
Cover (top-bottom) © SG Haywood

for a smartphone app…flick to p.9 for
a progress report. On p.17 SEA LIFE
Blackpool’s Scott Blacker outlines a
project in which souvenir-makers on the
Pacific Ocean island of Pitcairn are now
being supplied with shark teeth naturally
As always, The Blowfish anchors the
Pup’s Club – in this issue highlighting
the wobbegongs, a group of sharks
with a reputation as ‘World’s Most
Cantankerous’. Dr Charlie Underwood
explains just when Megalodon
bags waterbo (the
ttles t-shirts
Blue Shark © Fiona Ayerst.

discarded in aquariums, replacing the name means “big tooth”) is bthought

hoodies irthday cards bato bygrows

need to catch and kill juvenile sharks have disappeared from the shop.oceans.
sharktrust.org
for their teeth. Of course sharks in Shark Trust supporter Wayne Dawber

2 sh rkfocus 60
FEATURES
Built for Speed pages 5-7
What Came First, the Shark
or the Egg? pages 9-11
Protecting Pitcairn Island’s
Reef Sharks page 17
Investigating Marine
Strandings page 18-19
Shark Trust Adoption
Programmes page 20-21
Aquariums & Shark
Conservation page 22-23
CREATURE FEATURE
MARBLED ELECTRIC RAY
Image © Chris Bird.
The Marbled Electric Ray is named
for its black-brown speckled skin
that resembles a marble floor and its
ability to stun its prey. An exceptional
ambush predator, it camouflages
itself in sandy and muddy bottoms.
sh rkfocus 60 3
REGULARS
Editorials page 4
#Move4Makos page 8
Pup’s Club pages 13-16
Your Stories page 24
Housekeeping page 25
Fundraising page 25
Global Shark News page 26
Book Review page 27
Then it waits patiently for its prey
to pass before enveloping its
unsuspecting target whilst emitting
a series of electrical charges of
up to 200 volts! Highly specialised
electrogenic organs produce this
charge, instantly stunning or killing
the prey. The catch is then swallowed
whole, using the ray’s extendible jaws.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Torpedo marmorata
FAMILY: Torpedinidae (Torpedo Rays)
MAXIMUM SIZE: 80cm total length
DIET: Bony fish and crustaceans
DISTRIBUTION: British Isles to South
Africa, including the Mediterranean
and Western Baltic Seas.
HABITAT: Depths of 10-100m (below
20°C). Sandy and muddy bottoms,
rocky reefs and sea grass beds.
13
17
ADDRESS: 4 Creykes Court, The Millfields,
Plymouth, PL1 3JB, UK
PHONE: +44 (0)1752 672008/672020 
EMAIL: focus@sharktrust.org
WEBSITE: www.sharktrust.org
© Shark Trust 2018 - Shark Focus is
copyrighted and therefore those wishing
to reproduce articles must first contact the
Shark Trust.
The views and opinions expressed by the
authors in Shark Focus are not necessarily
those of the Shark Trust.
TRUSTEES: Stephen Allen, Jayne Ensell-
Bowen, Roger Covey, Dan Fairweather ,
Sarah Fowler OBE, Lene Hansen, Charles
Hood, Tom Kennard and Richard Peirce.
PATRONS: Steve Backshall, Nick Baker,
John Boyle, Leonard Compagno, Marc
Dando, Bob Earll, Nigel Eaton, Ian
Fergusson, Mariella Frostrup, Loyd
Grossman, John Gummer MP, Monty
Halls, Martha Holmes, Kate Humble, Sir
David Jason OBE, Gordon Ramsay OBE,
Simon Rogerson, Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch,
Michaela Strachan and Valerie Taylor.
SUMMER 2018
In May I was lucky enough to
spend a day in the company
of hundreds of people
interested in, and passionate
about, sharks.
SharkFest, held in Bristol
for the second time in
three years, is a celebration
of sharks and shark
conservation. People from
around the UK come to
swap stories, listen to speakers, buy shark books and
goodies and, for some, dress up in shark suits.
It’s encouraging to see so many different groups
represented, even if there are differences of opinion.
“
We know that shark conservation is a
many-headed beast. There are many views
of the ‘right’ way to go about things – from
direct action to policy, advocacy and
everything in-between.
”
But these are, to an extent, internal debates. They are
between people on the inside, all convinced of the need
and committed to action to protect sharks.
But here’s the thing. There’s a world outside that room. In
that world, not everyone shares our concern. For many
people shark conservation is a non-issue. Neither for nor
against, they’re just not bothered. Why is that? It’s partly
because everyone is busy and there is a whole load of
‘other stuff’ happening in their lives. But I also think it’s to
do with the way the issue has been framed. Have we done
enough to bring people in, to engage people with shark
conservation? Have we made it relevant?
Shark conservation (and the Shark Trust) faces some
big challenges in the coming years. It would be to our
advantage to do more to convince the waverers. In this we
can all play our part. We can all reach out into the world
and tell positive stories about sharks. We can all share our
passion. We can all use social media to share content and
influence others.
So, if you are passionate about sharks, skates and rays, don’t
keep it to yourself. It’s great to get shark people together in
one place, but the real work is to bring new people in. Then,
maybe, we will start to see less nonsense about sharks in
the press and more appreciation of these animals for what
they are.
Paul Cox
Managing Director
4 sh rkfocus 60
As members you’ll
appreciate that the
Shark Trust is proud
to be a science-
based organisation.
Science underpins our
actions, helps form our
positions, strengthens
our resolve. But we
have seen on many
an occasion that
however good the
science is, it does not succeed alone. Science is
open to interpretation, to dilution, to be branded
inconclusive. To be truly effective, science needs
people – to handle it’s PR, to shepherd it through
meetings, to maintain its integrity, to speak-up for it,
champion it, even fight for it! This is advocacy: the
act, or process, of supporting a cause or policy or in
this instance…science.
“outSo,onasbehalf
advocates, the Trust speaks
of sharks, skates and
rays – we seek to represent them and
support the application of science-based
”
management.
Take the Shortfin Mako – a stunning and
exceptionally vulnerable shark, featured in two
articles in this issue and focus of this phase of the
No Limits? campaign. Prized for their meat and fins,
Shortfin Mako are a valuable bycatch in Atlantic
high-seas fisheries, where they are currently
considered overfished. The scientific advice in 2017
couldn’t have been clearer: a complete prohibition
on retention of North Atlantic Shortfin Mako is the
most effective immediate measure.
But however good (or in fact damning) the
science, however strong the case, we cannot
always secure the result that the science and the
scientists themselves have identified, and that we
campaigned for.
So what do we do? Well certainly not give up! Our
latest campaign #Move4Makos is featured on p.8
and in this article you can learn what’s next and how
you can contribute. Rest assured, we will continue
to advocate for the original proposal as, after all, the
science still stands!
Ali Hood
Director of Conservation
BUILT FOR
SPEED
Paul Cox | Shark Trust Managing Director

Internationally acclaimed sculptor Alastair

Gibson has created the stunning Shark Trust
Carbon Mako – the ocean’s fastest shark
with a motorsport Mako’ver…

sh rkfocus 60 5
You only need to spend a couple of
minutes in the presence of Alastair
Gibson to feel your enthusiasm levels
rising exponentially. Alastair exudes
passion. His engineering-inspired
sculptures are recognised worldwide.
They brilliantly explore the convergence
between engineering design and
evolution. And they tell a story of a life
dedicated to a love of form and function.

Over the last year I’ve spent many hours with Alastair,
filming him at work in his Brackley studio and digging into
his fascinating and full-throttle former-life. The subject of
the film is the Shark Trust Carbon Mako. Alastair’s latest
creation, designed just for us, has arrived. Formed from
carbon fibre twill – the super-strong and light material that
forms the bodies of F1 cars – and adorned with recycled
parts scavenged from the workshops of racing teams, the
Mako is a tribute to speed and efficiency. Alastair’s love of
sharks goes back to his childhood in South Africa.

“parents
My first memories of the sea are actually when my
bought a holiday cottage on the south coast of
South Africa. It was always such a buzz to know that we
were driving the 600 miles from Johannesburg down to
Uvongo. I used to run around on the beaches picking up
things and learning about nature.
”
Whereas some of us spent our childhood picking up
shells and mermaids purses, Alastair’s finds were a little
more exciting.

“ The fishermen used to fish for Spanish Mackerel or

Wahoo. And invariably we’d see big sharks caught by
these fishermen and left on the beach. They weren’t
interested in them at all.

I’d take the sharks and put them back in the sea. Some
would swim away but other sharks had clearly expired.
So, I had an idea to cut the jaws out of the shark, dry
them on the roof of my cottage and mount them on
pieces of wood. Then I’d sell them when I went back to
school.

Finding these jaws intact in a shark and prising the skin

away and actually starting to cut it out, looking at the
mechanism of all the rows of teeth was absolutely mind
blowing. With my father being a race car engineer and
being surrounded by engineering, I soon realised these
creatures are engineered, they are engineered through
evolution.
”
6 sh rkfocus 60
In his early twenties Alastair discovered “the smell of petrol”
and set his sights on motor racing. After qualifying as an
engineer, he moved to Europe and began a 30-year career
that led him to be chief engineer for the BAR and Honda
Formula 1 teams. Anything can get mundane with repetition,
even travelling the world immersed in the glamour and
excitement of the F1 circuit. At 47, Alastair quit “while he was
ahead” and decided to try his hand at sculpting…with an
engineered twist. In the ten years since, Alastair’s work has
won him acclaim and a growing base of collectors that can’t
get enough of his unique approach.

“ I wanted to show the link between modern engineering

methods and art – and the link between the natural world
and my art.
”
He’s displayed his work all over the world. When Jenson Button
retired from racing, Alastair was commissioned to produce a
Manta Ray sculpture using components from cars Jenson had
raced. And the love of sharks is ever-present, which is why
Alastair has created and donated this work to the Trust.

“to Iput
have a great passion for sharks from childhood and
something back into this relationship is really
important to me.
”
The Trust is immeasurably grateful to him for creating
something that will raise awareness and, ultimately, raise
money for shark conservation. The Shark Trust Carbon Mako
will be touring over the next 12-18 months and a short film
about its creation will be released in the autumn. You can
follow its progress, visit it on display and even make an offer
for it through our facebook page and website.

If I can, in just a small way, influence

If a bid for the Carbon Mako is a bit beyond your
means, Alastair has designed some special edition
keyrings and paperweights to celebrate the
project. You can find them on our online shop at
www.sharktrust.org/shop.
what people think and do with the ocean
– and try to include in it my love for
sharks – then I feel like I am playing my
part.
Alastair Gibson

sh rkfocus 60 7
#MOVE4MAKOS
MAKO MOMENTS:
The management of Shortfin Mako continues to focus

Shortfin Mako © Shutterstock, Wildestanimals

Summer 2017: Shortfin Mako Stock
the Shark Trust’s attention in the Atlantic high-seas. Assessment
Working with our partners in the Shark League, and ICCAT* fisheries scientists reached
backed by substantial public support (thanks to the clear conclusions: North Atlantic
174,000 of you who signed the No Limits? petition!), Shortfin Mako are overfished, and
the Trust is taking every opportunity to advocate for overfishing continues. Even if landings
are cut to zero, Shortfin Mako have
science-based catch limits for this exceptionally only a 54% chance of recovery by 2040.
vulnerable shark. They concluded that a prohibition
on retention was the most effective
While Shortfin Mako remain in deep trouble, all is not lost. immediate measure.
The next annual ICCAT* meeting is in November 2018. Ahead of this we’re
November 2017: ICCAT Annual Meeting
asking you, your family and friends to show your support by joining our
latest campaign Move4Makos. You can help us show Atlantic shark fishing Despite the stark scientific advice,
nations that we’re watching them! ICCAT Parties fell short of adopting
a prohibition or even a catch limit.
Showcased on our new No Limits? website, which launched last month, However they did agree to a binding
pledging your support for Move4Makos couldn’t be simpler. Recommendation which permits (with
caveats) the retention of dead mako.
You move a mile (by any means) and we take a virtual tonne off the latest With survival rates relatively high,
Shortfin Mako landings data! With 6000 tonnes reported from the Atlantic in there is potential for this measure to
2016, we‘re looking for enough supporters to symbolise bringing that total significantly reduce the pressure on
down to zero – mimicking the prohibition actually advised by the scientists. mako – if effectively implemented.

So who can move faster and hit zero first, the public or the politicians?
*ICCAT:
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
Visit www.nolimitsnofuture.org for more info and to register your ‘mile’.

8 sh rkfocus 60
 WHAT CAME FIRST,
THE SHARK
OR THE EGG?

Cat Gordon
Shark Trust Conservation Officer

The story of the Great

Eggcase Hunt (GEH) began
in 2003 when an eggcase
got tangled in a kite line at
Bantham Beach in Devon.
This seemingly insignificant
event sparked the thought:
“what if we could get people
submitting these from all
around the country?” With a
name like ‘mermaid’s purse’,
these objects were sure to
capture the imagination,
especially when you find out
that they once contained a
shark!

These simple little capsules

offer protection to sharks
and skates as they develop,
but when they’re empty and
wash ashore, they can help
indicate species presence
and diversity. By submitting
details of finds, the public can
become citizen scientists.
What a great way to get
people involved in shark
conservation without having
to travel to tropical climates
or even get wet feet!

Fast forward 15 years and

nearly 200,000 eggcases
have been submitted to the
project, which continues to
gather momentum...

9
ALL THAT’S NEEDED FOR AN EGGCASE
HUNT IS A BEACH
The Great Eggcase Hunt arms citizen
scientists with all the tools needed to
identify finds and submit details. In 2014
the GEH app was launched for iPhone
and Android, enabling people to carry the
ID guides and recording form around in
their pockets for quick accessibility. This
year it’s getting relaunched with Dutch
and Portuguese translations.
As well as using the app to submit your
finds while on the move, records can be
submitted using the online recording
form on the website, or you can put pen
to paper and write to us with details and
specimens. We love to see people getting
eggs-cited (sorry) about their finds and
sharing them on social media afterwards!
UNDERWATER FINDS
Although beach records can give an
indication of presence, ocean currents
can carry the empty capsules some
way from where they were initially laid.
Therefore, having underwater records
submitted from snorkelers or divers is
important to help confirm egglaying
grounds. Catshark eggcases are often
seen with their curly tendrils attached to
seaweed, however skate eggcases are
rarely reported: Are they deeper? Better
hidden? Or just not getting reported?
GLOBAL EGGCASE TAKEOVER…
We’ve now had records submitted from
all around the world – with 30 species
reported from 22 countries and some
additional eggcases which haven’t been
identified to species yet (so this will up
the species count). We’ve had records
from Ecuador, to South Africa, to New
Zealand and many places in between.
The website has examples of global
finds and basic ID materials for species
found along the eastern US seaboard.
Sister projects to the Great Eggcase
Hunt were set up in Ireland by Marine
Dimensions and France by APECS in the
early years of the project. We have since
worked with the Dutch Shark Society to
establish the Great Eggcase Hunt in the
Netherlands (Grote Eikapsel Jacht) and
are currently working with APECE on
developing the Portuguese version
(A Grande Caca aos Ovos).
THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to everyone who
has submitted records to the project
so far, whether it’s 1 or 1000 we really
appreciate your records. We hope you’ve
had fun while taking part in the project
and enjoyed exploring our beautiful
beaches. We’ll continue to collect
eggcase records so keep up the search!
Here’s a selection of stories from some
dedicated eggcase hunters...
10 sh rkfocus 60
WHERE? Orkney
WHO? Penny Martin
EGGCASES SUBMITTED: 10,808 (81% Flapper Skate) between Dec ‘14 - Nov ‘16
Despite the Flapper Skate being Critically Endangered and no longer found in
much of its former range, Orkney remains a stronghold for this species. Penny
has even found innovative methods of re-purposing spent eggcases: “I have
‘shingled’ my hen house roof with skate eggcases and they are doing a grand job of
keeping it wind and waterproof! We are also using some of the 1000’s of eggcases
on my friend’s farm to stabilise the ground around gateways, this has made it
much less muddy in winter…. and her horses have much cleaner legs!”
WHERE? Fleetwood, Lancashire
WHO? Carol & Owen Fawcett, Wyre Council’s Coast & Countryside Rangers
EGGCASES SUBMITTED: 19,439 since 2015
Rangers and volunteers regularly eggcase hunt along the Fylde Coast
between Cleveleys and Knott End. To date, 54% have been Thornback Rays,
42% Smallspotted Catsharks and the remainder mostly Spotted Rays, with the
occasional Nursehound, Cuckoo, Small-eyed and Blonde Ray.
WHERE? Penparcau, near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
WHO? Chloe Griffiths, Nature of our Village
EGGCASES SUBMITTED: 2178 (73% Nursehounds) since 2016
“Our community wildlife recording project aims to work out how many species
our local patch supports, and to note any changes at a local level. When we
found out about the Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt it seemed like the perfect
way to take part in a national citizen science project that would make our local
records useful for the UK-wide picture. We are proud to be contributing data to
the Shark Trust, and increasing the sum of knowledge about these creatures in
UK waters as well as very locally in Cardigan Bay. ”
WHERE? Wembury, Devon
WHO? John Hepburn
John has been involved with
the GEH since its inception. His
first record of a Spotted Ray
was submitted from Bovisand,
Devon on the 1st February 2003,
just as the project was finding its
feet. John later discovered a site
where developing Nursehound
eggcases could be observed
while snorkelling on a low spring
tide. Since 2014, John has worked
with the Trust to monitor these
eggcases and discover how often
they are deposited, length of
development time and level of
biofouling by other organisms.
WHERE? Jersey
WHO? Paul Chambers, Société Jersiaise
EGGCASES SUBMITTED: 10,772 (Dec ’12 – Dec. 16, with more still to add!)
“We get our eggcases from a complete cross-section of people but especially
beach cleaners and dog walkers – with eggcases often handed over in (unused)
doggy poo bags. The largest number of eggcases collected at once was 226
following a storm. The highlight over the past five years has been the arrival of
one or two Cuckoo Ray eggcases each New Year. A live Cuckoo Ray has never
been found in the Channel Islands but the eggcases, which are usually pristine,
suggest that they must be out there somewhere. Collecting and identifying the
eggcases has provided a large dataset that we shall be analysing this summer
to see if there is anything we can learn from it.”
 = Verified Records !
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Sources: Esri, GEBCO, NOAA, National Geographic, Garmin, HERE,
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I even wear my eggcase t-shirt!”
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Seeing photos or having specimens sent to!( us means we can verify
eggcase records; this improves the quality of the GEH database. WHERE? Rustington, West
Sussex
Where identification hasn’t been confirmed, these are marked as unverified. WHO? Ange Rawlings & John
The records in the sea aren’t a mistake and these are underwater finds Richardson, Rustington Beach
reported by divers, snorkelers and scientific surveys! Group
EGGCASES SUBMITTED: 22,634
(69% Undulate Rays) since 2013
“It’s awesome to think of
hundreds of Undulate Rays living
beside us in the sea and it is an
honour to count their eggcases!”
In the early days, bags of
Record your eggcases and find
eggcases regularly turned up
out more about the project at at the Shark Trust office for
www.eggcase.org recording, and Ange’s compost
bin was often full of eggcases
in an attempt to make them
decompose (they don’t…!).

sh rkfocus 60 11
 Meet the newest member of the
Shark Trust team…
Following completion of an MSc in
Biological Diversity, Rebecca gained
experience in the marine science and
conservation sectors. She has provided
support on international conservation
projects; working with the dive industry
in Southeast Asia and on research
projects at world recognised marine
science institutions. Having joined
the Trust in November 2017, Rebecca
supports the Conservation Team in
outreach events, citizen science and
fisheries projects.
REBECCA GILLHAM
…and our new Trustees…
Lene is a criminologist, consultant, and
rowing coach. She has loved sharks since a
baby hammerhead swam around her feet
when she was eight. Since then she has
dived with (and occasionally campaigned
and raised funds for) sharks all over the
world. When her work allows she speaks
of the importance of sharks to anyone who
will listen and has spoken on the topic
at numerous schools and the occasional
retirement home.
LENE HANSEN
Charles runs specialist Basking Shark
and Blue Shark tours out of Penzance.
Encountering sharks in the wild is a key
means of gaining the public’s support for
their survival and helps dispel the myth
that sharks are simply man-eaters. Charles’
close interaction with British sharks has
also grabbed media attention, featuring on
The One Show and the BBC’s Britain’s Secret
Seas. A keen underwater photographer,
Charles’ images have been used in many
worldwide publications to promote
marine conservation, including Shark Trust
campaigns.
CHARLES HOOD
12 sh rkfocus 60
DAN FAIRWEATHER
After graduating from Nottingham
University with a Zoology degree,
Dan spent time working within
the biotechnology industry before
retraining as a fish biologist. Dan
joined the insurance sector in 2000
as a specialist aquaculture claims
broker before moving into account
handling and placement. In 2012
Dan was recruited by Willis Towers
Watson to head up the Aquaculture
Division where he handles their
global aquaculture account and
the development of risk services.
Latterly he has been working with
colleagues to develop insurance
products to protect against
environmental damage of marine
ecosystems.
JAYNE ENSELL-BOWEN
Jayne spent many years as an HR
manager in the communications,
banking, and education sectors.
Since moving to the West Country
she has also become a Registered
Homeopath and practices in Devon
and Cornwall. As a parent she has a
deep concern for the future of our
world, our seas, and our wildlife.
She hopes to use her skills and
knowledge to support the Trust in
its shark conservation work.
 Pu p’s
Club !
Finally, we get a chance to
recognise my most favourite
of sharks – the wobbegong!
Not only has this beautiful beast got
a pretty snazzy name, he also has a
monstrous beard, which I certainly
approve of. However, that fantastical
facial arrangement isn’t just for show
– it’s the start of what makes this shark
such a successful predator.
Unlike their more active cousins,
wobbegong sharks (of which there are
12 known species) are masters of stealth
and ambush, preferring to lie in wait
until prey swims within striking range.
Although they might seem very visible
to us when viewed in a book or public
aquarium, the patterns on the shark
provide it with excellent camouflage
against the dappled backdrop of the
Pacific reefs where this family of sharks
are found. Add in those weirdy beardy
tassels and the outline of the shark is
further broken up, increasing its powers
of invisibility.
However, the tassels themselves serve
an extra purpose – they are covered
in sense organs that allow the shark to
detect the minor movements of prey.
During the day the wobbegong will
remain motionless, often relaxing in a
cave or under a rocky outcrop, taking
any small fish which stumble too close.
But at night it’s time to really hunt, as
reef fish move into the rocks and caves
to sleep, essentially bringing the meal
right to the shark’s mouth. They don’t
always have it easy though. Sometimes
the wobbegong has to dance for its
dinner, and the Tasselled Wobbegong
has been recorded slowly waving its tail
at potential prey. This is an attempt by
the shark to convince other fish to come
closer, as the tail of the wobbegong
looks like a small reef fish. You don’t
want to fall for this trick though – any
creature foolish enough to do so is
quickly snaffled up in the blink of an eye,
never to be seen again!
THE BLOWFISH

YOUR LETTERS
We all have our reasons
for loving sharks.
JOKE ALERT!
Why is the Leopard Shark so
What’s yours?
bad at playing hide & seek?
We’d love to know...
Because he’s always spotted!
Write to us at
focus@sharktrust.org Dougie held a cake sale outside his house,
raising £40! Thanks Dougie, those cakes look
delicious!

is
ew th
n w ho dr also
ns o k. He
Steve Shar
s to Miles a Salmon
hank e of
Big t ing pictur
a m a z .1 9 p !
d £27
raise 13
Tasselled Wobbegong © Andy Murch
TASSELLED
WOBBEGONG
Eucrossorhinus dasypogon
© Alexander Safonov
ASK AN
EXPERT WHEN & WHY DID THE MEGALODON
BECOME EXTINCT?
Dr Charlie Underwood of Birkbeck University of London’s
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences replies:

The most famous, and probably most intriguing, shark

fossils are huge, triangular teeth from one of the largest
predators ever to have existed. These teeth belonged to
Carcharocles megalodon – the Megalodon. Ancestors of this
species can be traced back nearly 60 million years.

Although very famous, the Megalodon is known only from

teeth and sections of backbone, so its size and shape can
only be guessed at. In comparison to other sharks, the teeth
suggest a length of at least 15 metres, and it was probably
torpedo-shaped like the modern White Shark, to which it is
only distantly related.

Where Megalodon fossils are common, fossilised whale bones

often show huge bite marks, suggesting that whales formed
much of its diet. The Megalodon became extinct about two
million years ago, at the start of the ice ages. As the oceans
got colder, the warm, shallow seas where it lived disappeared
and whales migrated to colder waters to feed, leaving
Megalodon too Megalodon with no food and nowhere to live.
th © Stormblast2
008 (CC BY-NC-
ND 2.0)

Basking Sharks are the 2nd biggest fish in the ocean. Yet they

COLOUR
eat tiny microscopic plants and animals that float in the water,
called plankton. It takes a lot of plankton to sustain such a big
animal! So it’s a good job they have such big mouths!

16 sh rkfocus 60

PROTECTING
PITCAIRN ISLAND’S
REEF SHARKS
In 2016 the Shark Trust was contacted
by Professor Terry Dawson of King’s
College, London, who was leading
a marine and fisheries management
project on the Pacific Ocean island of
Pitcairn. He was concerned about a local
fishery for juvenile reef sharks, from
which only the teeth were used, with the
remainder of the carcass discarded. As
his team was noting a decline in shark
numbers, Prof. Dawson queried whether
there was a more sustainable source of
shark teeth.
After a little lateral thinking the Shark
Trust forwarded the query to some of
our aquarium contacts. Scott Blacker,
Curator at SEA LIFE Blackpool, takes
over the story…
sh rkfocus 60 17
On Pitcairn Island teeth from juvenile sharks are used
to decorate popular local wood carvings which are sold to
cruise ship passengers. The demand for shark teeth has led
to an increase in fishing for juvenile sharks, including the
Near Threatened Grey Reef Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos and
Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus. This has, in turn, led
to a significant decrease in numbers of breeding adults in the
surrounding waters.
Sharks regularly replace older teeth with new ones, shedding
thousands of teeth in a lifetime. In an aquarium, teeth
naturally discarded by sharks can be found by divers with
keen eyesight. My team and I have collected and used these
teeth for educational purposes for many years. However we
now donate them to Pitcairn Islanders, for use in their wood
carvings. Along with colleagues from SEA LIFE aquariums
across the UK, we’re really pleased to be part of this
international conservation project which is helping protect
wild shark populations.
Professor Dawson said “This is an important step towards
managing the ongoing decline in shark numbers. We hope it will
be a long-term sustainable solution that continues to work for
the local island culture and shark populations in the area.” As
an additional result of this initiative, the Pitcairn Island Council
and community have recently agreed on a regulation banning
the fishing of juvenile sharks for this purpose.
Photos (top-bottom): Grey Reef Sharks © Kelvin Gorospe, NOAA (CC BY
2.0). Pitcairn Island © Balou46 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Collecting shark teeth from an
aquarium tank © Scott Blacker - SEA LIFE.
 n.
Pearso
©Andrew
g Shark
Baskin

INVESTIGATING
MARINE STRANDINGS
The Shark Trust is regularly approached by
media outlets for facts and figures on sharks
in British waters. Providing these – with the
greatest level of accuracy – is a job we take
seriously. But as summer draws nearer, so too
does the UK media’s ‘silly season’ for shark
stories – most recently: “Is a Great White Shark
hunting off the Great Yarmouth coast? Two half-
eaten dolphin corpses washed up at seaside
resort are latest mysterious attacks on sea life”.

As well as the Shark Trust Conservation Team,

We can ascertain we are able to call on an extensive network
not only how they of experts to provide reporters with science-
died, but also based information on almost anything to
how they lived. do with sharks. One of these experts is Rob
Deaville – Project Manager for the UK Cetacean
Rob Deaville Strandings Investigation Programme at the
Zoological Society of London.

18 sh rkfocus 60
What is the Cetacean Strandings
Investigation Programme (CSIP)?
CSIP investigates stranded marine
mammals – and, very occasionally, sharks
– reported by the public or local councils.
Our job is to find out as much as we can
about the animal and the cause of death.
Where possible, we bring the carcass back
to the lab for a post-mortem. We cover all
of England – with call-outs ranging from
Northumberland to Devon.
When examining injuries on a
stranded animal, what are the key
characteristics you’re looking for?
What we can learn depends on how fresh
the carcass is – the older and ‘runnier’ the
carcass, the less useful it is. By getting
to the site quickly and investigating the
animal’s location and condition, we can
identify whether it was a live stranding
or washed up dead. From there we
assess factors such as post-mortem
scavenging by fish and birds, as well as
by terrestrial animals. At first glance these
can sometimes resemble a ‘bite’ – which is
where the rumours can start. The location
of injuries on the animal can also be
informative – injuries from ship/boat strike
tend to be dorsal (top-side) rather than
ventro-lateral (under-side or side of the
animal). All of this can be observed in the
field – but once we get the carcass back
to the lab for post-mortem examination we
can learn much more.
What percentage of the strandings
you’ve investigated could have been
the result of some sort of interaction
with a shark?
Every year we log around 600-700
cetacean strandings. CSIP perform post-
mortems on around 100-150. Over a 20
year period I can count on both hands
the cases in which there was evidence
of shark interaction – in most instances
it was likely the result of post-mortem
scavenging. Shark bites are quite different
to injuries caused by other factors – often
they’re overlapping semi-circular areas of
tissue loss.
Is it common for sharks to strand
around the UK coast?
We don’t have a lot of information on this
yet. Contrary to common perception,
sharks do live-strand, however this is
rare and they are usually dead before
washing up. The biggest cause of death is
bycatch and entanglement in fishing gear,
especially for Basking Sharks. Generally,
around 5-6 Basking Sharks wash up per
year - though only a small number have
been examined due to location, size,
condition etc. Following post-mortem
examination, we can ascertain not only
sh rkfocus 60 19
how they died, but also how they lived. In
the lab we analyse tissue (for presence of
contaminants), eyes (for stable isotopes),
vertebrae (to establish age), gonads
(maturity and reproduction) and stomach
contents (for diet, life-history).
Have you made any interesting
discoveries following a shark-related
stranding? Porbeagle washed up on beach © CSIP-ZSL.
One Basking Shark I examined in the lab
had a brain infection, akin to meningitis.
Very little is known about this in sharks.
There have been interesting developments
on the back of our work – chemicals being
banned from Europe and fishery closures
based on data we collected. We’ve
even observed ‘the bends’ in cetaceans
– previously it was thought this didn’t
happen. It’s been especially noted in deep-
diving cetaceans such as Cuvier’s Beaked
Whale which can dive to over 3000m,
and hold their breath for over 2 hours – it’s Orca stranded on beach © CSIP-ZSL.
thought human-produced underwater
noise pollution could be linked.
How does your work feed into shark
conservation?
We are really just beginning to dip
our toes into the shark side of things –
the more we know, the more we can
help shark conservation and fisheries
management, as well as learning more
about their biology and the threats they
face. We can also play a role in shifting Humpback Whale found in River Thames © CSIP-ZSL
the public’s negative perception of sharks.
We engage with reporters in order to get
correct, balanced information out there.
Generally we get positive media coverage
following cetacean strandings. However
it’s inevitable that sometimes articles or
reporters will get it a bit wrong – we just try
to correct these and continue to provide
science-based information.
Stranded Shortfin Mako © Llew Griffin.
So, is “…a Great White Shark hunting
off the Great Yarmouth coast?” Rob
and the CSIP team identified one
animal as a Risso’s Dolphin (juvenile
male) which probably live-stranded.
Normally a deeper water species, this
dolphin was in poor condition, which
could be linked to its presence well
outside of its normal distribution. From
the photos, Rob believes the other
animal was a Harbour Porpoise – in
this instance the damage appears to
be more consistent with scavenger
action or possibly seal predation/
scavenging. Despite the misleading
headline, neither animal presented
pathology consistent with shark
predation or scavenging. Basking Shark © R Goodall.
 Funds raised by
WHITE SHARK RESEARCH
Shark Trust Adoption FARALLON ISLANDS, US Pacific coast
Programmes contribute Russell Bradley Many hundreds of Point Blue volunteers
long-term financial Farallon Programme Leader
and staff have conducted “Shark Watch”
support for two external Point Blue Conservation Science on the Farallones – two hour shifts
searching for predation events – over
conservation initiatives. the past three decades. During most
White Sharks are highly mobile animals,
and due to the vastness of their shark watches no predation is observed,
The first – run by Point environment it is difficult to monitor their but a combination of patience, good
Blue Conservation populations. However, because mature observation skills and luck can lead to
White Sharks show site fidelity and feed at amazing experiences and great data
Science – monitors the surface, it is possible to monitor their when it does happen. After three years of
White Shark population predation events. This can provide an index slightly increasing shark predation rates,
trends and behaviour to populations of sharks that utilise specific 2017 showed a decline and perpetuated
in California’s cool, feeding areas. The large seal and sea the overall declining trend in shark
lion haul-out and rookery on the Farallon predation events on Farallon seals and
offshore waters. Islands (off the coast of San Francisco, sea lions since 2000. In fact, the 14
California) has made this a world- confirmed predation events in 2017 is the
The second – the renowned location for viewing sharks. For 4th lowest in the history of the project
the past 29 years, Point Blue biologists and is 66% below the 30 year mean of
Maldives Whale Shark 41 per year. This year follows four years
have been conducting standardised
Research Programme surveys from the lighthouse to record of very low predation events around the
(MWSRP) – supports White Shark predation events. Long-term island.
greater public datasets such as these are important for
Find out more: www.pointblue.org
assessing annual variation and potential
awareness and research trends in White Shark predation.
into Whale Sharks in
the tropical Maldives Funding from the Shark Trust’s White
Shark Adoption Programme helps support
archipelago. equipment for Shark Watch crews on the
island. It also allows Farallon biologists
to coordinate information obtained from
partner scientists at the Monterey Bay
Aquarium Research Institute, who have
tagged sharks in waters around the
Farallones.

20 sh rkfocus 60
WHALE SHARK RESEARCH
MALDIVES, Indian Ocean
James Hancock
Co-founder/Director of Operations
Maldives Whale Shark Research
Programme (MWSRP)
We’re all familiar with the concept
of people only seeing the surface
of the ocean and being unaware of
what is happening below. If you can’t
see something, you probably won’t
understand it. If you don’t understand
it, you probably won’t care about it.
If you don’t care about it, well that’s
where conservation becomes a
challenge. The MWSRP, with the help
of donations from the Shark Trust’s
Whale Shark Adoption Programme,
are providing those crucial first steps
in looking under the sea surface
for school children from across the
islands of South Ari Atoll.
While many of the younger generation
of islanders in the Maldives will be
learning about overfishing and ocean
acidification in school, they don’t
often have the opportunity to don
masks and snorkels and see what is
happening to the marine environment
first hand. Despite having one of the
world’s great marine playgrounds right
on their doorstep!
After a decade in the Maldives, this
sh rkfocus 60 21
reoccurring theme of disassociation by Trust help to keep the ship afloat. The
unfamiliarity led MWSRP to design and simple action of adopting a shark means
begin the Moodhu Kudin programme. real funds are sent to organisations
Translated from the local language, like ourselves who are trying to affect
this means ‘children of the sea’ and change on the ground. And for that we
is a very exciting two-day experience would like to say a hearty shukuriyaa
designed to supplement the children’s and look forward to your continued
school learning. The key component support in 2018!
of this programme is getting children
onto and into the sea. Bedecked in Find out more:
www.maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org
mask, snorkels, fins and the mandatory
life vests, the children are able to
safely explore and see first-hand the
complexity of the coral reefs that
surround their home islands. We’ve even
had some groups encounter Whale
Sharks!
These activities are supported by a
series of lessons carefully designed
to explain what they are seeing first
hand and make relevant the very real
effects human actions are having on the
reefs. Recent excursions have focused
on marine litter, with timelines drawn You can find out more about
in the sand showing decomposition our adoption programmes at
rates for common man-made materials
attracting a lot of disbelief! www.sharktrust.org/adopt
The reality is that each excursion costs
money: vessel rental, fuel, equipment, Photos:
materials…all have to be found and P.20: White Shark © Sean Sequeira.
funded. This is where donations from Researcher monitoring White Sharks © Point Blue.
P.21: Whale Shark © Steve Jones.
wonderful supporters like the Shark MWSRP hosting a Marine Discovery Day © MWSRP.
Since the Shark Trust was established in 1997,
we’ve worked with aquariums to help spread

AQUARIUMS &
the word about sharks. We know the idea of
aquariums isn’t universally popular. Some
people question the value of aquariums,
others have wider ethical objections to captive SHARK CONSERVATION
animals. For some species in particular,
the issue of captive populations is highly We talk to
contentious; the Shark Trust remains opposed Director of
to the holding of filter-feeding or migratory North Carolina
species (for example Whale Sharks, White Aquarium at
Sharks) in captivity. Pine Knoll
Shores, Hap
Fatzinger…
But we believe there are many benefits to
well-run, responsible aquariums. They provide
a valuable opportunity to study and learn
more about marine animals. They also allow
large numbers of people to develop a positive
connection with sharks and rays. Aquariums
and zoos are increasingly showing their
commitment to conservation. In the United
States the Trust is working with the Association A ‘good aquarium’ must have a
of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) who’ve recently continual focus on improving animal
embarked on an ambitious effort to support care & welfare, while sharing a strong
international shark and ray conservation. message of conservation & inspiring
actions with their visitors.
All images © North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll shores.

22 sh rkfocus 60
Tell us about your aquarium? Why should we visit? North Carolina
The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores displays Aquarium
flora and fauna of North Carolina and follows a journey from
the mountains to the sea. Visitors encounter freshwater fish,
amphibians, snakes, river otters, jellies, sea turtles and, of course,
sharks and rays. The pride of the collection is probably our Sand
Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus, one of many shark species local to
the seas off North Carolina.

You’re a coordinator for the AZA SAFE Shark and Ray

Programme. What is this?
SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) is a programme developed
by AZA to bring institutions together and focus efforts on saving
species in the wild. Through collaboration and purposeful
actions, SAFE provides opportunities for our institutions to create
effective messaging, contribute to captive breeding efforts,
connect with organisations working in the field and support
activities that promote global sustainability for sharks and rays.
It’s really a vehicle to enable all sizes of aquarium to contribute to
conservation in a meaningful way.

The Shark Trust says it supports ‘good aquariums’ – what

would you say sets a good aquarium apart?
A ‘good aquarium’ must have a continual focus on improving
animal care and welfare, while sharing a strong message of
conservation and inspiring actions with their visitors. We must
create a connection between the animals in our care and saving
species and habitats in the wild.

What can aquariums do for sharks and rays?

We have such a unique opportunity to share these animals with
our guests, dispel fear, and create wonder and empathy. Creating
awareness of the global decline in shark and ray populations, and
providing opportunities for our visitors to support conservation, is
where our greatest impact lies.

Tell us about your work with Sand Tigers?

Tremendous efforts are underway to support healthy populations
of Sand Tiger Sharks (image right) in the wild, and in aquariums.
Through collaborations between AZA and other global aquariums,
along with research institutions, we are looking at the health,
reproduction, migration patterns and habitat use of species in the
Northwest Atlantic.

How often do you get out diving with sharks?

Not enough. North Carolina is unique in that we have amazing
shipwrecks with large aggregations of Sand Tiger Sharks in
warm, clear water. These conditions create a mecca for shark
diving and conservation opportunity. As a result, we have
launched a citizen science programme called Spot A Shark USA
(www.spotasharkusa.com) to leverage the images of the dive
community to support science for the species.

Can you recall your first underwater encounter with a

We must create a
shark? connection between
Absolutely! It was only a Horn Shark Heterodontus francisci off the the animals in our care
coast of California, USA, but it generated a huge fascination which & saving species &
I pursued by looking for opportunities to encounter Blue Sharks,
mako and thresher sharks along the west coast of the USA. habitats in the wild.

sh rkfocus 60 23
 SECRETS
OF RAJA AMPAT

Shark Trust supporter Wayne Dawber gives

us the lowdown on spectacular diving in
Indonesia’s first shark sanctuary…
Raja Ampat is a quiet, sparsely populated marine
sanctuary situated at the north-west tip of the Bird’s
Head Peninsula, in Indonesia’s West Papua province. The
sanctuary encompasses over 4 ½ square miles and has
recently been officially declared Indonesia’s first shark
sanctuary by the local government, providing protection
for sharks and manta rays, of which there are many.

In 2006 a scientific survey in the region recorded some

1200 fish species. This included the discovery of dozens
of previously unrecorded species. Ensuing media coverage
also raised the profile of the amazing Epaulette Shark in
both the scuba diving and non-diving worlds. It’s a place I
would love to keep secret, but for the reasons above I feel
the need to (reluctantly) shout about it.

We stayed at the Corepen Homestay on the island

of Gam, in the heart of the Dampier Strait. On one dive
alone (Cape Kri) we saw five Blacktip Reef Sharks, two
Grey Reef Sharks, four Whitetip Reef Sharks and a couple
of Tasselled Wobbegong – not to mention countless
Barracuda, a school of Bumphead Parrotfish, tons of Jacks
and Trevally, a Napoleon Wrasse, an Eagle Ray and so
much more my memory fails to keep up. It was a weird,
dreamlike procession of marine life that lasted an hour and
was a stunning, visual treat that, to my mind, only existed
on the National Geographic channel. I am a Divemaster who
has been all over the world chasing the ultimate marine
experience and for my budget this place had it all. It made
me feel as though all hope for the survival of sharks – and
the ocean in general – was not yet lost.

Photos:
Top: Blacktip Reef Shark © James Lea.
Right: Tasselled Wobbegong © Nicolas Terry.

24 sh rkfocus 60

A BIG thank you to all our fundraisers...
Kudos this month to our friends at The Deep in Hull. Tom
and Lisa stepped up at the last minute to run the Hull 10K
and raised £181 in less than a week. Their colleague Matt is
taking part in ‘Total Warrior UK’ and has so far raised over
£600. Great effort from the team at The Deep.
The Deep have also been one of many UK aquariums
raising money for the Trust through collecting pin badge
donations from their visitors. The people of Hull have
excelled, donating over £2500! If you’re in Hull and you see
one of our pin badges on someone, go shake their hand.
If you have a business and would
like to raise money for us by selling
our pin badges get in touch. You can
also buy individual badges from our
Shark Shop.
Want to #DoSomefin for sharks?
Why not join us at one of our organised
events around the UK? Or how about
organising your own? You can find lots
of helpful fundraising tips and advice
at www.sharktrust.org/fundraise.
Remember to #MOVE4MAKOS too (p.8)
HOUSEKEEPING
I’m sure you have been
inundated with emails
from many sources with
regards GDPR (the EU’s
General Data Protection
Regulation), which came
into effect on 25th May. So
we thought the summer
issue of Shark Focus is the
ideal opportunity to give
you an overview on how
we hold your data.
The Shark Trust acts as the ‘Controller’ of the personal
data you provide to us – that means we decide how
and why it is used. We only collect the basic personal
data that we need to fulfil your needs – sending your
Shark Focus and processing Gift Aid if applicable. No
more than is necessary.
We keep a copy of your personal data on secure
software managed from our office in the UK. The
system is held on a server in the UK. Any third party
which has access to your data, such as courier services
and payment providers, have a processing contract
with us which binds them to manage your data
securely and only under our instruction. If the third
parties are outside the EU, we take steps to ensure
they meet the standards of the GDPR.
If you’ve paid us for something, the data we hold is
restricted to contact details (name, address, phone
number and email) along with details of your donation/
purchase/subscription. If you’ve only consented to
join our mailing list we’ll hold your name and email
only. You can unsubscribe from the list at any time by
clicking on the link at the bottom of any email we send.
Alternatively, you can ask us to remove your details by
emailing privacy@sharktrust.org.
If at any point you believe the information we hold
is incorrect, you may request to see this and have
it corrected or deleted. Please send an email with
the heading “Subject Access Request” to privacy@
sharktrust.org.
Because of our size and the nature of the data held,
we haven’t appointed a Data Protection Officer.
However, I am responsible for Data Protection and
can be contacted at glenys@sharktrust.org or on
+44 (0)1752 672008. Any other questions with regards
subscriptions, renewals, change of address etc. should
still be sent through to me at this email address.
You can view the full Privacy Policy on the website:
www.sharktrust.org/privacy.
Glenys Heafield
Company Secretary
Head of Finance & Administration
25
GLOBAL SHARK NEWS
DECEMBER
TAIWAN: Rare intersex shark found in
fishing trawl
A Pacific Spadenose Shark Scoliodon
macrorhynchos caught in a fishing
trawl in Taiwan was discovered to
have fully developed female and
male reproductive organs. Externally
the individual appeared male with a
pair of claspers visible. However an
internal examination found a pair of
ovotestes-gonads containing both
ovarian and testicular tissue. Research
into the increased prevalence of
intersex fish has linked its occurrence
to the increase in contamination of
wastewater with hormones such as
oestrogen.
JANUARY
USA: Frozen Threshers washed up on
Cape Cod
Over the space of a week, four frozen
Thresher Sharks Alopias vulpinus
were found on Cape Cod beaches
following a cold snap on the US
eastern seaboard. Initially the cause of
death was attributed to hypothermia
caused by the sudden plummet in
temperatures. Fisheries scientists
have since determined the sharks
likely stranded and froze in their
attempt to migrate to warmer waters
as temperatures dropped. The unique
topography of Cape Cod with its large
mudflats and hook-like projections, as
well as its extreme tidal fluctuations,
can prove to be a trap for sharks and
marine mammals migrating through
the area.
ALBANIA: New shark species for
Albania – Bigeyed Sixgill Shark
The landing of a Bigeyed Sixgill Shark
Hexanchus nakamurai, accidently
caught in a gill net off the coast of
southern Albania is the first record
of this shark in Albanian waters. It
confirms the presence of this little
known species in the Mediterranean.
Prior to this capture, the maximum
total length for a Bigeyed Sixgill
Shark was thought to be 180cm; the
individual landed at the Port of Himara
measured a distinctly larger 230cm.
26 /thesharktrust  @SharkTrustUK sh rkfocus 60
FEBRUARY
GLOBAL: Filter-feeders at risk from
microplastic pollution
Large filter feeding elasmobranchs
such as Whale Sharks, Basking Sharks,
Megamouth Sharks and mobulid
rays are facing an increased risk from
microplastic pollution. The hundreds-
to-thousands of litres of water
processed each hour by these species
can contain high concentrations of
microplastic particles. Research shows
filter-feeders are exposed to toxic
chemicals caused by the breakdown of
microplastics in their digestive system,
potentially inhibiting the absorption of
nutrients and altering hormones.
BRAZIL: Whitetip Reef Sharks found
off the coast of Brazil
The first known instance of multiple
individuals of a non-native shark
species entering a new marine
ecosystem was documented. Three
Whitetip Reef Sharks Triaenodon
obesus, normally found in the Red Sea,
Indian Ocean and parts of the Indo-
Pacific, were reported by a diver off
the coast of Brazil. While not entirely
impossible that the sharks arrived by
natural migration through the Atlantic’s
current system, Whitetip Reef Sharks
are not known to undertake large
migrations. It is more probable they
were introduced by humans – possibly
released by an aquarium or home
aquarists. In addition to how they got
there, a pressing question is what effect
will this introduced species have on the
Brazilian coastal marine ecosystem and
its native species?
Whitetip Reef Shark © Papahānaumokuākea Marine National
Monument (CC BY-NC 2.0)
ATLANTIC: New species of sixgill
shark identified in the Atlantic
A new species of sixgill shark has
been identified in the Atlantic Ocean.
Following genetic analysis, scientists
determined there were sufficient
differences between what was
previously thought to be a single
species – the Bigeyed Sixgill Shark
Hexanchus nakamurai and the newly
named Atlantic Sixgill Shark H. vitulus.
While the two species are very similar
visually, they exhibit significant genetic
differences. The new discovery takes the
total number of sixgill sharks to three
(including the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark H.
griseus).
MARCH
SOUTH AFRICA: Seal Island – where are
all the mature White Sharks?
Scientists investigating the sex ratio and
life-history stages of White Sharks over
a nine year period at Seal Island (off
Cape Town, South Africa) discovered this
area is predominantly used by juvenile
(60%) and sub-adult (32%) sharks. After
moving through these life-history stages,
individuals were rarely recorded again
after reaching adulthood, with mature
sharks accounting for only 8% of sharks
visiting the waters around Seal Island.
The research confirms Seal Island’s
importance as a seasonal feeding
ground for sub-adult White Sharks.
APRIL
INDIA: Rare Ganges River Shark sighted
in fish market
A new paper documented the first
sighting in over ten years of a Critically
Endangered Ganges River Shark Glyphis
gangeticus at a fish market in Mumbai,
India in 2016. The 2.6m female shark
was identified by the rounded snout and
small eyes and fins characteristic of the
species. The distribution and abundance
of the Ganges River Shark remains
unknown, however scientists believe
the species inhabits both freshwater
and marine environments. The new
sighting highlights the urgent need for
management and habitat conservation.
BOOK REVIEW In writing Shark Attacks: Myths,
Misunderstandings and Human Fear,
Australian marine biologist Blake
Shark Attacks Chapman had a challenging proposition:
Myths, Misunderstandings balancing a rational scientific review with
the extreme human trauma of a shark
and Human Fear bite (or ‘attack’).
Blake Chapman
The book opens with a detailed
CSIRO Publishing
introduction to shark biology, reinforcing
ISBN 9781486307357
their flawless evolution. Chapman then
RRP AU$39.95
cuts to the chase: “…occasionally, sharks
bite people”. In the following chapter she
outlines the history, statistics, species and
activities associated with shark attacks.
More practically, the book lists common
sense do’s and don’ts to reduce the
likelihood of unexpectedly coming face
to face with the business end of a shark,
as well as providing a useful review of
the growing arsenal of personal shark
mitigation technology (Shark Shield
and the like). We’re then taken on a
tour of management tools and policies
employed around the world to reduce
the likelihood of humans encountering
sharks, including controversial measures
such as culling and drumlines.
Where the book really grabs you is its
evaluation of the media’s capacity to
influence public perception of sharks
and the ‘danger’ they represent. Here,
Chapman neatly introduces research by
Reviewed by John Richardson the University of Sydney’s Chris Pepin-
Shark Trust Conservation Officer Neff (amongst others) into the language
Basking Shark © Charles Hood.
sh rkfocus 60 www.sharktrust.org/adopt 27
of ‘shark attacks’. This sensational,
emotive style of describing sharks and
their interactions with humans came
of age post-Jaws and continues to
dominate media reporting; as Chapman
notes, almost unbelievably it even finds
its way into government policies on the
real (and not so real) danger posed by
sharks. Just as intriguing is her analysis of
how – even in the 21st century – sharks
(with a little help from the media) still
push our primeval psychological buttons.
For many people, this dramatically
distorts their assessment of the risk of
shark attack.
This book is well researched, navigating
a wide-ranging topic in an easy style that
keeps a lid on scientific jargon. Personal
narratives dotted throughout ensure the
facts and figures don’t overshadow the
mental and physical trauma experienced
by surfers, swimmers and divers who
have been bitten by sharks. While one or
two of the recollections are harrowing,
others give lifeguards’, paramedics’ and
doctors’ perspectives of a situation most
of us will never encounter.
Overall, Shark Attacks: Myths,
Misunderstandings and Human Fear
successfully draws together an engaging
and balanced review of what we know
about shark attacks – recommended
reading for serious shark conservationists
and Sharknado fans alike.
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