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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What is Sharktober?

Sharktober is the period when the large adult sharks reappear on our coastline after six months or more of absence. After migrating thousands of miles from the Central Pacific ocean between North America and Hawaii called the “White Shark Cafe”, the mature white sharks return in late summer to their feeding grounds off the Central California coast.  

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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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