Shark Retention Bans Can Save Sharks

A study published in the journal Fish and Fisheries this month revealed that fisheries could reduce shark death by requiring the release of threatened sharks caught as bycatch by at least three times. Known as retention bans, the practice requires that fishermen release certain sharks that are endangered or unwanted rather than retain them for their fins or some other use.

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Sevengill sharks of California, Photo ID and Community Science

Michael Bear is the President and co-founder of Ocean Sanctuaries and a board member of Shark Stewards. He manages the Sevengill Shark ID Project, which uses the pattern recognition algorithms contained in ‘Wildbook’ to help identify Sevengills returning to La Jolla [and Cape Town] from year-to-year. We are leading dive trips and recruiting divers who dive the san Diego area to submit photographs of sevengill sharks to photo ID using an algorithm.

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Shark Stewards Joins Nationwide Coalition to Support NOAA

Shark Stewards has joined 377 organizations and businesses nationwide have joined together to urge Congress to oppose actions by the Trump administration to dismantle, privatize, or significantly diminish the critical services and functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

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Global Shark Attacks Low in 2024

New report documents low shark attacks and fatalities in USA and worldwide, 2025 heating up. The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File recently published their annual shark attack report on global shark attacks in 2024.

The data from 2024 showed a  dramatic decline from attacks the year prior, and at 52 recorded encounters, far below the ten year average of 70 globally.  The 47 unprovoked attacks were down from 2023. Four of last year’s attacks resulted in fatalities, also a significant reduction from recent years.

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Action: Hawai’i Wild Fish Aquarium Trade Permitting

The Hawai’i HB661 bill can bypass permitting requirements for wild fish collection. The hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, February 27, at 2:00 pm (HST), in the House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs. As with the Senate bill, this version (HB661) is a dangerous bill that would also entirely gut the Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) by allowing potentially destructive activities to continue during any required environmental review.

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Defend Our National Marine Sanctuaries

A new bill has been introduced in the US Congress that would amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The Act protects US marine habitat, underwater natural resources and cultural heritage treasures, and empowers community input on the use of our national marine sanctuaries.

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