An early off-cited alert 2015 study by Dr. Boris Worm of Dalhousie University warned that around 100 million sharks were killed each year, primarily by the shark fin trade. However MacNeil ‘s team estimates that nearly twice as many rays — 191 million — are killed annually, in work that has yet to be peer reviewed.
Read MoreBelow the Surface: A Diver’s Plea for Smart Solutions to Shark Depredation
A new federal proposal- the SHARKED Act (short for Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research, Knowledge, and Enhanced Dialogue)- would direct NOAA to create a national task force to study “shark depredation,” the term used when sharks take fish off of fishing lines. This issue has drawn attention and emotion from all sides, but any effective solution must begin with facts- not fear.
Read MoreDo Sharks Get Cancer?
There is a widespread, persistent myth that sharks are immune to cancer, largely popularized by a 1992 book titled Sharks Don’t Get Cancer by Dr William Lane. However, marine biologists and veterinary pathologists have definitively proven that sharks do develop both benign and malignant tumors.
Read MoreESA Amendments Vote Killed by Florida Republicans
House Republicans abruptly canceled a vote on a Bill that would significantly undermine the Endangered Species Act, scheduled for a House vote on Earth Day April 22. The ESA Amendments Act HR 1897, introduced by Representative Westerman (R-Ark) would weaken the 52 year old law that has protected thousands of endangered species from extinction.
Read MoreSave Willy Act Would Protect Whales in San Francisco Bay
In 2025, 24 whales died in the San Francisco Bay Area according to the California Academy of Sciences, marking this the highest mortality rate in 25 years. Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) introduced the “Save Willy Act,” a bill designed to prevent the deadly ship strikes that are claiming the lives of whales in record numbers.
Read MoreProtecting Our Living Laboratory: Why Duxbury Reef Needs SMR Status
Currently, Duxbury Reef is designated as a State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA). While this offers some protection, it allows for the “limited take” of finfish and abalone. Unfortunately, this “limited” status has created a loophole of confusion and ecological degradation. Working alongside the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC), we are calling for the redesignation of Duxbury Reef as a State Marine Reserve (SMR) and the expansion of its boundaries to ensure this ecosystem can truly thrive.
Read MoreDead Leopard Sharks and Reporting Wildlife
Report dead or sick sharks, seabirds, marine mammals in the San Francisco bay area using these hotlines.
Read MoreFederal Court Supports ESA Protection
A federal court struck down Trump’s attacks against the Endangered Species Act (ESA), restoring key values of this essential environmental law to the status it held for decades before the first Trump administration attacked the ESA.
Read More30% Marine Protection by 2030
The 30×30 initiative is one of the most ambitious conservation goals in human history. It is a global commitment to designate 30% of the Earth’s land and ocean area under protection from human impacts by the year 2030. While the goal covers both land and sea, the marine component is particularly urgent, since the ocean is the largest feature by surface and volume on our planet. However, with less than 10% protection, the ocean contains the most exploited ecosystems on the planet.
Read MoreTrump Announces New Shark Sanctuary
Today President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order proclaiming the first Sanctuary for Sharks in US waters. Under Executive Order EO 14396, Preserving America’s Sharks, the President signed into law the San Francisco Bay as the first Shark Sanctuary in US Waters.
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