Scientists evaluate the health risk assessment of globally consumed shark meat and shark fins.
Eating shark meat and shark fins are bad for sharks, but it is also bad for human health.”
Read MoreNew Guide to Species Proposals at CITES
This year delegates and scientists will convene to consider increasing international trade protection for hundreds of species of plants and animals under CITES, a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) entered into force in 1975, and became the only treaty to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild. A State or country that has agreed to implement the Convention is called a Party to CITES. Currently there are 184 Parties, including 183 member countries and the European Union.
Read MoreCelebrating and Protecting Manta Rays
September 17 is World Manta Day, a day to celebrate the marvelous mobula rays and how to protect these increasingly endangered rays. Manta Facts Manta rays are relatives of all […]
Read MoreHistory of Human Occupation on the Farallon islands
Looking west on a clear San Francisco day a smudge of jagged peaks can be glimpsed on edge of the horizon. A rugged archipelago of wind and wave-worn rocks form the Farallon Island chain. Located 30 miles from shore, Farallones composed of SE Farallones (the tallest), Middle Rock, the Island of St James to the North, and Noon Day rock, the islands host a history of shipwreck, murder and the birth of millions of seabirds and seals. Known as the islands of the Dead by the native Miwok, who viewed them but did not leave any evidence of visitation, the islands have a rich and sometimes tragic history of human occupation.
Read MoreSharks the Invisible Casualty in San Francisco Bay Fish Kill
In August, thousands of dead fish washed ashore in San Mateo County, from Foster City to Coyote Point. The reports later spread into the main San Francisco Bay past Hayward and Alameda Island, to Fort Baker in Sausalito. Crossing the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to investigate the report near San Quentin, my polarized sunglasses showed a distinctly dark swath of water along the tideline stretching from Richmond to the Larkspur channel.
Read MoreCelebrating the World’s Biggest Fish: Whale Shark Day
August 30 is International Whale Shark Day! This day was established to raise awareness around the importance of whale sharks to marine ecosystems and their dwindling population numbers, and to encourage conservation efforts to protect these gentle sharks.
Read MoreSharktober: Return of the Great White Sharks
A 2022 study by Dr Paul Kanive and others documented 350 great white sharks in the north central population, and considers this a fairly healthy and robust population compared to the other aggregations globally. Work contributed by citizen scientists and Mexican scientists have documented over 350 individuals over time in the Guadalupe sub-population. Combined with the more abundant juvenile and sub adult shark cohorts off southern California and Baja, the northeast Pacific are growing thanks to strong protection while in state and federal waters.
Read MoreCalifornia Risk of a White Shark Attack
August 13, 2022 by David McGuire Given the large population of humans accessing the ocean off California and a healthy marine ecosystem with a large population of marine mammals, shark […]
Read MoreSperm Whale Death Draws Great White Sharks
Whale attracts a congregation of white sharks near coastal area frequented by surfers, divers. Ocean goers advised to be on alert. On July 29, an adult sperm whale was reported […]
Read MoreSaving Endangered Great Hammerhead Sharks
One of the most threatened large sharks, the population of Great Hammerheads (Sphryna mokkaran) has declined more than 50% in the past 70 years In the Atlantic Ocean. In the Pacific the population has declined dramatically, and populations have vanished from much of their range.
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