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
Read MoreShark 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.
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 MoreEarth 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.
Read MoreRichardson Bay Citizen Science Kayak Adventures
This excursion starts at Sea Trek at the Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model where we will learn about the tides, currents and geology of the San Francisco Bay over […]
Read MoreShark Deaths Plague San Francisco Bay
Shark Stewards is assisting the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation investigating the die off of sharks and rays in the San Francisco Bay. Since April, […]
Read MoreShark Stewards Supports CITES Appendix II Protection for Mobula Rays, 4 Species of Shark
CAMPAIGN UPDATE: The Conference of the Parties at C0P 17 voted to support all CITES Appendix II Proposals for Elasmobranches. Shark Stewards is working to support proposals to list the Silky […]
Read MoreMigratory Sharks Receive New Protections at Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
The governments belonging to the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) moved to protect 21 shark and ray species at a meeting in Quito, Ecuador, […]
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