The Real Apex Predators Are White and Black

Highly intelligent, Orcas are also adaptable. It is believed that the resident Orcas may be moving into southern waters to seek alternate prey sources due to a decline in salmon. With an abundance of anchovies in the Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries, hundreds of humpback whales are feeding nearshore. Overlapping with the whale season is Sharktober, when the adult white sharks return to feed on pinnipeds off the Farallon Islands.  Shark Stewards leads public education trips out to the Farallones each fall helping collecting observations on whales and sharks. Although we love orcas, speaking from a shark conservationists’ point of view, we hope they pass on through and white sharks aren’t on the menu this year!

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NOAA Considers New Rule to Increase Protection Oceanic Whitetip Sharks

In a public hearing August 20-21 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted hearings seeking comments on a proposed rule to extend protective regulations for threatened oceanic whitetip sharks under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act.  The public can submit comments on the rule until Sept. 15.

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Science Communication and Public Ocean Education

Science communication is the ability to engage a wide array of audiences regarding environmental concerns, utilizing a framework set forth to hook participants into educating more on pertinent topics, and strategically designing a solution for next steps. Science is meant to be engaging and fun for all ages of learners and educators, and this means presentations should be designed for all levels of thinkers.

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Shark Week News and the Kahu Manō

This week is Shark Week, Discovery Channels sensationalistic programs on feeding frenzies and shark attacks. On a more serious note, July 14 is International Shark Awareness Day, a day to recognize the importance of sharks to marine ecosystems, and the dire threat of extinction many species face. Shark Stewards lives for sharks everyday, and works to protect them from overfishing and the wildlife trade.

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Sharks and Chainmail Valerie Taylor: Women in Ocean Science

I watched Jaws for the first time as a kid, with my dad. He cautioned me it might be too scary, but I wasn’t scared of the shark- I was enthralled. That fascination never left and has brought me to many pieces of media much better for sharks than Jaws, but Jaws in addition to all the horror the film brought for sharks, helped bring prominence to the career of a remarkable woman who has worked tirelessly to document and save sharks.

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Shark Attacks Occuring Early in Hawai’i

The shark season is heating up early in 2024, with four incidents in Hawai’i by June. Although Maui has the notoriety of the most shark attacks in the Hawaiian Island chain, all incidents occurred on the island of Oahu thus far according to Hawaii’s Department of Aquatic Resources (DAR). Read how you can avoid getting bitten by a shark and still enjoy the ocean.

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Sharks and the sustainable blue economy

Sharks play a pivotal role in ocean ecosystems, acting as apex predators that maintain the health and balance of marine environments. Their presence regulates species populations, which helps prevent the overgrazing of seagrasses and reefs by smaller marine animals.6 By promoting healthy oceanic ecosystems, sharks indirectly support fisheries and other marine industries critical to the blue economy.

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