The Weird, Wild and Nearly Extinct Sawfish

Currently in the news is an account of unusual spinning behavior and deaths in an Unusual Mortality Event, potentially attributed to a neurological pathogen off the coast of Florida. The global populations of all five sawfish species have experienced historic declines greater than 90% due to fisheries overexploitation (directed and bycatch) and habitat loss. Consequently, three species are listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and two species are listed as Endangered. There is a very real risk that these unique species will be lost without urgent conservation action

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Shark Stewards CITES Intern Update, Vivian Guido

The requiem and hammerhead shark families include some of the most endangered species of sharks. Important apex predators, hammerheads and requiem sharks are among the highest traded fins in the Asian market. New research shows that 37% of all sharks are threatened with extinction, the highest percentage among vertebrate groups in the ocean. Pelagic (open ocean) sharks have declined over 70 percent in the last 50 years. Additionally, reef shark populations were found to be functionally extinct on 20% of coral reefs surveyed around the globe.of all species in the shark fin trade are endangered.

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Sharks 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.

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Earth Day at Oakland Zoo

Hands of for Bay Sharks and Rays!

How do sharks and rays feed- what are their specializations and what impacts shark and ray health in the San Francisco Bay? Join us at our table learning about local sharks and rays, their specialized feeding mechanisms and discover fun shark facts.

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