Japan proposes to release 1.3 million tons of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear meltdown into the Pacific ocean sometime in the Spring or Summer of 2023.
Read MoreDead Sharks and Rays in Aquatic Park
During the week of February 6 a colleague reported via Reddit seeing several dead bat rays and leopard sharks at Berkeley’s Aquatic Park. After investigating, a biologist from Shark Stewards recorded nearly 20 dead leopard sharks and bat rays at Aquatic Park.
Read MoreJudge Lifts Hawai’i Aquarium Fish Permit Ban
A Hawaiʻi Circuit Court judge lifted an injunction prohibiting the issuance of aquarium fish permits for the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area today. However, this doesn’t mean that commercial aquarium fishing can immediately resume in West Hawaiʻi.
Read MoreComment Period to Permit Shark Fishing Open in Hawaii
Shark Stewards is asking the Hawai’i Division of Aquatic Resources to follow the intent of HB 553 and only allow permits to fish sharks for valid scientific study, Hawaiian cultural practices and in extreme cases, for public safety.
Read MoreRecreational Fishermen Catch Protected Sharks
On January 18, a young angler in Florida received the surprise of his life by catching a protected white shark and widespread news coverage benefits fishermen targeting protected sharks that take advantage of loopholes. Shark Stewards urges the Florida Fish and Willdife Conservation Commission to close loopholes allowing commercial charters to benefit by targeting protected sharks for sport and impact endangered and threatened sharks.
Read MoreWe Passed the USA Shark Fin Ban!
Shark Stewards Was There to See This Through! Can you help with your tax-deductible donation to continue saving sharks in 2023?
Read MoreCongress Passes Shark Fin Sales Ban, Forwards to President Biden
To help save sharks from extinction, the United States just moved one step closer to protecting them from the global shark fin trade.
On Thursday, the Senate approved language making the possession, sale and trade of shark fins illegal, with a few exceptions, and ban the trade of shark fins. The provision, HR 2811, which the House inserted into the National Defense Authorization Act and passed last week will go to President Biden for his signature.
Read MoreHouse Votes to Pass Shark Fin Trade Ban
A bill to end the USA shark fin trade reintroduced by Representatives Sablan and McCaul passed through the Congress with a strong bipartisan majority Thursday.
House lawmakers passed the measure that would ban buying and selling shark fins in the United States and help the country fight illegal fishing and overfishing sharks. As part of the huge National Defense Authorization Act HR 776, the “END Wildlife Trafficking Act” includes the shark fin sale provision.
Read MorePacific Fisheries Managers Move to Protect Sharks
In a surprising decision, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has outlawed shark lines and wire leaders, both of which are used by industrial-scale fishers targeting sharks and leading to major declines in Pacific shark populations.
Read MoreBan Wire Leaders to Save Endangered Pacific Sharks
The 16th meeting of the WCPFC is taking place on 5-11 December in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and we are urging member states in attendance to fight for sharks and rays that are harvested in the Pacific.
Banning wire leaders and shark lines would reduce fishing mortality of oceanic whitetips by 40.5%, and that of silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), another threatened species, by 30.8%, according to research cited in the WCPFC proposal.
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