Great Victories for Sharks!!!

We are doing something right ladies and gentlemen!!!

According to the amazing Shark Research Institute, Chile has completely banned shark finning in their waters.
Honduras claimed over 90,000 miles as a shark sanctuary (meaning that no matter the circumstances, if sharks are in that region, killing them is ILLEGAL)!!
The Bahamas claimed over 240,000 miles as a shark sanctuary as well.
Finally, The Marshall Islands, Palau, and Guam claimed OVER 2 MILLION MILES as a shark sanctuary.

Here at home, Oregon, Washington, and California have outlawed the trade of shark fins!

These are obviously huge accomplishments for our notorious apex predator of the ocean. The stricter we are on shark finning the better our Earth's health and survival will be. We still have an enormous amount of work to do to reverse the devastating damage that humans have caused, half of the known 400 species of sharks are still ENDANGERED!!! But with continued awareness and research we can help sharks regain their numbers.

The Shark Research Institute is the leading organization in promoting sharks' interests, educating people about sharks, and giving them a voice, and I am proud to be a member. Their continuous research has helped several species of sharks gain numbers and their relentless stance in promoting shark conservation has (and will continue to) decrease the destruction of our apex predator of the ocean . I am honored to be a small part in this organization. If you would like to check them out, their website is www.sharks.org.

Tiger Sharks

Tiger sharks are most notoriously known as the "ocean's garbage-cans" for they eat anything and everything they can sink their teeth into. They actually have such unique and sharp teeth that they are able to cut through not only flesh, but also bones as well as turtle shells! Besides eating whatever they can find swimming in the ocean, tiger sharks mostly eat seals, sea turtles, sea birds, other sharks, dolphins, fish, and even sea snakes! Not picky at all :)

Tiger sharks are one of the biggest species of shark alive today. They can even rival the Great White Sharks with their size. Usually, they are at least 16 feet in length but females on average reach 18 feet long. On average, Tiger sharks weigh approximately 849-1,400 pounds!!!
Tiger sharks are usually found in tropical and temperate waters. They seem to favor the temperature of the Pacific Islands in particular.

Tiger sharks are extremely solitary creatures and ususally do their hunting at night. They are able to detect electric fields from any object in the ocean and can also detect minute vibrations in the water which allows the Tiger sharks to be extremely efficient at hunting their prey at night. Their heads are 'wedge-shaped' which them to turn abruptly to one side.

Tiger sharks possess EXCELLENT eye-sight and a highly acute sense of smell that allows them to react to very faint traces of blood and follow them to the source!! Due to the high risk of attacks, dolphins often avoid regions that are inhabited by Tiger sharks!!!

***Tiger sharks are ranked as one of the most dangerous species of shark. Although Tiger shark attacks on humans are HIGHLY RARE, they are responsible for a considerable percentage of fatal attacks on humans. ***** (In other words, if you happen to be swimming in the ocean and see one of these sharks it would be best to get the heck away from them as soon as possible).

Females mate approximately once every three years. The mating process is EXTREMELY PAINFUL for the female, for the male has to bite down on her back in order to hold on to her as they swim along. (This doesn't just occur for this species of shark). Females usually have enormous amounts of scars along their backs because of this.

The eggs hatch internally and are born fully developed. The young develop inside of the mother for 16 months! Obviously, this is an extremely long time and baby Tiger sharks have been known to eat their under-developed brothers and sisters INSIDE OF THE WOMB.

Currently, scientists do not know how long Tiger sharks can live, however there have been Tiger sharks recorded to be over 12 years old.

The most notable shark attack involving the Tiger shark occurred in October of 2003, when American surfer, Bethany Hamilton was surfing and was bit, causing her to lose her entire arm. Along with giving inspirational speeches she continues to surf today. It is believed (although not 100% confirmed) that she was attacked by a 19-foot-male Tiger shark.

****Tiger sharks are captured and killed for their fins, flesh, and liver. With this being a continuing trend, Tiger sharks will inevitably go from being a threatened species to an endangered one. The question is only a matter of how much time that will take.  

Mako Sharks

Mako Shark Facts:

There are actually two types of Mako Sharks: the Shortfin Mako Shark and the Longfin Mako Shark.

• These sharks have sleek, skinny bodies, with large black eyes, a distinctly pointed nose, and long-pointed teeth.
•  Mako Sharks are in the 'vulnerable' conservation status!!
• On average these sharks are approximately 7-9 ft. long.
• Shortfin Mako Sharks are found in temperate (meaning neither too cold nor too warm waters) as well as tropical seas worldwide.
• Longfin Mako Sharks are found specifically in the Gulf Stream or warmer offshore waters.
• Food preferences: Mako Sharks mainly feed on bony fish (i.e. tuna, swordfish...etc); however Makos have been known to eat other sharks, sea turtles, sea birds, and dolphins.
• Hunting Technique: Makos have a specific way of hunting: they approach their prey from underneath. This gives them the advantage in the sense that they can see what is above them and implement the 'SURPRISE ATTACK.' (This method is almost completely fool-proof).
• Makos are the fastest sharks in the seas; they can reach up to 31 mph and have been seen to have bursts of up to 46 mph!!
• Makos give birth to LIVE YOUNG, and have a gestation period of approximately 15-18 months (almost double a human's gestation period).
• Maximum age recorded: 29 years for males; 32 years for females.
• This species of shark do not do well in captivity, they usually do not last past 1 month, which explains why there are never any Mako Sharks at aquariums.
• The International Shark Attack File has reported that through the duration of 30 years (1980-2010) there have been 42 attacks on humans. 3 OF WHICH WERE FATAL.
• IN GENERAL, THIS SPECIES OF SHARK DO NOT ATTACK HUMANS. THE TIMES WHERE HUMANS WERE ATTACKED, IT WAS ALWAYS DUE TO MISTAKEN IDENTITY---THE SHARK CONFUSING THE HUMAN FOR WEAKENED OR HURT PREY.

New Mission

Over the next few months, I will be 'disecting' the hundreds of species of sharks, one-by-one and presenting information about each species. Their normal habitat, how they hunt, what they eat, how they reproduce, how many attacks on humans, how many of the attacks were fatal, any unique physical characteristics and much more. This is obviously a huge undertaking (there are over 440 species that have been discovered) but I feel that with more knowledge and FACTS that I present to the public, the better understanding people will have over the different types of sharks. Who knows, maybe my little blog will have an impact on how some people view sharks. :)

Thank you,
Marissa 

Update on my Farallon Islands Adventure!!

My adventure to the great Farallon Islands to see the Great White Sharks is still on, however in less than a year :) The weather is just too crazy right now, so thankfully, I am able to still go there, but I'm going in September of 2012!!!! That way it's not too late in the year and the weather will be less crazy :) Just wanted to update my viewers.
Below are some pictures of where I'm going to go in September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEK!!!!! :)

Australia attacks

I just watched a video about a third man being killed by a shark attack in the past two months in Australia. Now, there is a massive hunt for this "man-killer" that boats are lining up trying to bait in the great white shark. First of all, it is so sad that three men died, however, it would be IMPOSSIBLE that there was just one shark responsible for all three deaths and even harder to prove which one did it. Furthermore, how in the world can someone positively "ID" the shark that is responsible for the attacks. It's not like these sharks have ID cards that they can flash to people on the boats.
It is false to think that once a shark has tasted human blood that it is thirsty for more. That may be true for other animals but it is CERTAINLY NOT TRUE for sharks. Sharks are notorious for attacking due to mistaken identity. Once the shark realizes that it's prey isn't a seal, fish, dolphin, etc...it USUALLY swims away. It has been proven that sharks DO NOT like the taste of human blood or flesh. We are too bony for them, which is why majority of the time, once the shark lets go it doesn't come back for more. The problem is considering these animals' massive size, one bite can be devastating to a human, which is why people often lose limbs or die.
I cannot even imagine what the families must be feeling and I give them my deepest sympathies, but I do not think the answer is to have a bunch of fisherman trying to kill all kinds of sea life when they have no idea which shark or sharks attacked those men. Isn't bad enough that we lost three men, why do we feel the need to justify their deaths with mindless and needless slaughter of (MOST LIKELY) innocent animals?
Mindless killing is definitely not the answer and most definitely will not "teach those sharks a lesson."

http://news.yahoo.com/aussie-coast-fears-rogue-shark-may-killed-3-122218160.html

The Real Deal

If you think that I am exaggerating or that I am wrong in the fact that shark finning is a SERIOUS, life-threatening problem to not only sharks, but humans as well take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think.

                                                   I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT.