Shark Focus - Issue 65 by The Shark Trust

SH RKF O C U S IT’S ALL BULL FEATURECREATURE MIND FACTOID:THE THE SHARKSABOUTTRUTH ISSUE 65 WINTER 2020 FROGS AND WHALE SHARKS ADAPTATIONREMARKABLESHARE COCONUTSBEWARE:FALLINGDISPELLINGSHARKMYTHS:HOWWECANALLCHANGETHE

DESIGN: Hazel crossfireagency.comGraham We’re now in November and still so many of us remain working from home. Unfortunately, this means the products available in our online shop remain quite limited. But we’re still sending out adoptions and memberships. And, of course, our limitededition LOVE SHARKS Calendars (p.23). For those of you who pay by Direct Debit or Credit Card please note that Charity Checkout has changed name to Enthuse. I know some of you were concerned to see this reference on your bank statements. But I can assure you these are taken on behalf of the Shark Trust and are legitimate. I think we’ve all had enough bad news during 2020. So, we thought some really happy news was required. Cat, our Senior Conservation Officer, and her husband, Mark, are the very proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. Maisie was born on August 23 rd and is gorgeous. We all send our wishcongratulationshugeandthemmuch inhappinessthisnew chapter of their lives.�� I hope the festive season is as peaceful as it can be for you all. I’d also like to wish you a healthy and happy 2021. Thank you again for all your support. It’s been invaluable in helping us continue our muchneeded work.

WELCOME! All being well this issue has reached you before the festive season. So, we’re sending you our best wishes for Christmas and for the new year to come. We’re not going to pretend that 2020 went exactly to plan. But it’s been an “interesting” year for all of us. And here we are, at the end of it, delighted to present you with Shark Focus 65. This time around, we decided to focus on something that’s very close to our hearts. We’ve been talking about sharks for over 20 years. We used to call it “raising awareness” but times have changed. Thanks to the internet and the explosion of film and TV content, awareness of sharks is less of an issue these days. But we still have much work to do to overcome some of the misconceptions about sharks and their conservation. We think it’s past time that we change the narrative. And, in this issue, we touch upon some of the ways this might be done. As ever, we welcome your comments and feedback. Please write to us at focus@sharktrust.org . But don’t expect an answer too soon. As usual, the team will be taking a well-earned break from 21 December until 4 January. We’ll pick up any post, emails and phone messages then. 65 UK +44 (0)1752 672008 Jane Atwood, Jayne EnsellBowen, Roger Covey, Dan Fairweather, Sarah Fowler OBE, Charles Hood, Dean Martin and Richard Peirce.

EMAIL: focus@sharktrust.org WEBSITE: www.sharktrust.org TRUSTEES:

WELCOMEWELCOME winter2020 ISSUE

ADDRESS:TRUSTSHARK 4 Creykes Court, The Millfields, Plymouth, PL1 3JB,

PATRONS: Steve Backshall, Nick Baker, John Boyle, Leonard Compagno, Marc Dando, Bob Earll, Nigel Eaton, Ian Fergusson, Mariella Frostrup, Loyd Grossman, John Gummer MP, Monty Halls, Martha Holmes, Kate Humble, Sir David Jason OBE, Gordon Ramsay OBE, Simon Rogerson, MichaelaStafford-Deitsch,JeremyStrachan and Valerie Taylor.

© Shark Trust 2020 Shark Focus is copyrighted so those wishing to reproduce articles must first contact the Shark Trust. The views and opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the Shark Trust.

HOUSEKEEPING SH RKF O C U S IT’S ALL BULL FEATURECREATURE MIND FACTOID:THE THE SHARKSABOUTTRUTH FROGS WHALEANDSHARKS ADAPTATIONREMARKABLESHARE COCONUTSBEWARE:FALLINGDISPELLINGSHARKMYTHS:GLENYS HEAFIELD Company Secretary Head of Finance & Administration COVER: Vectorstock.illustrationCoconutsbyderocz/ sharktrust.org2.

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22. FUNDRAISINGWARNING! 3.sharktrust.org FEATURES 08 DISPELLING SHARK MYTHS Let’s change the conversation 10 DROP THE TOASTER Time to shift focus 12 WHY EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT SHARK CONSERVATION IS WRONG If you read the papers! 14 MIND THE FACTOID The truth about sharks REGULARS 04 YOUR VIEWS 0 6 GLOBAL SHARK NEWS 18 . SHARK TALK Ali Hood & Paul Cox 22 FUNDRAISING 24 CREATURE FEATURE Bull Shark 28 . PUP’S CLUB CONTENTS 25 . DAY thein LIFE BLOWFISHTHE eyeeye ALI HOOD Science: the heart of conservationthe DISPELLING SHARK MYTHS issue 16 . BLUE SHARK POSTER 20 ANGLING FOR BETTER Project Update 21 FALKLAND ISLANDS Project Update 25 . THE UNUSUAL EYES OF THE WHALE SHARK Tom Hird 26 . SHARK CAREERS A Day in the Life 26 . GLOBAL shark news 28 . PUPS CLUB 7 most threatened sharks 10 . 06 . 18 .

GOSS.TERRYMINDEN/NATUREPL;© sharktrust.org

SHARK LIVER OIL YOUR VIEWS

SHARK DAY TRIPS

Send your questions, comments and photos to focus@sharktrust.org and you may appear in our next issue. best places around the world (predominantly Europe) and is it possible to get involved with any expeditions at all?” - BRETT STEVENTON Shark Trust: Seeing these amazing creatures in the wild is certainly a game changer! In the views UK, there are organisations that offer day trips to see Blue Sharks off Cornwall and Basking Sharks off Scotland. Check out our website to discover the best places to spot them. And our Code of Conduct so you’re prepared for a future encounter. Whilst we don’t specifically endorse any organisations or expeditions, you can find advice on choosing a responsible, ethical and safe shark experience at www. sharktrust.org/experience-sharks.

SHARK TEETH & JAWS

“I’m highly interested in the conservation and protection of sharks, and would absolutely love to get the opportunity to be able to see these amazing animals in the flesh. Where are the Talk of a COVID-19 vaccine has shone a bright light on the issue of shark products. Particularly squalene (shark liver oil) which is often used in vaccines. Over the past few weeks we’ve received a few enquiries about this and what we’re doing to solve the problem. Shark Trust: Squalene is an organic compound which can be extracted from shark liver oil. It’s widely used in cosmetics. And as an adjuvant to increase the efficient delivery of certain vaccines. Including some of those in development for COVID-19. Recent media coverage, about the number of sharks that may be being killed to supply squalene for COVID vaccines has been alarming. But it should be noted that these figures are based on hypothetical worst-case scenarios. Shark squalene is often sourced from slow-growing deepwater sharks. Having a low reproductive rate, these species are extremely vulnerable to exploitation. Effectively managed fisheries are vital to ensure the survival of these species. And this is something we’re continuing to push for. We’ve recently been in contact with pharmaceutical companies to ground truth media claims and understand the potential impact ourselves. There are alternatives for squalene - both synthetic and plant-based – but these are unproven in this context. We have to understand that speed is of the essence in getting a vaccine out. It may be that shark squalene is the best option in the short term. But we’ll continue to push for viable alternatives to be developed over the coming months and years.

YOUR

“My son has just turned 7 and is very interested in sharks. He was given a real shark tooth on a leather necklace as a birthday present and loves it. I’d like to be able to give him a full set of teeth and jaws, but am concerned that buying online may perpetuate poor conservation practices. I wonder if you could give me some guidance on acquiring such a thing, without causing any damage to the population.” - PHIL BISHOP Shark Trust: We understand the fascination with shark teeth and jaws. And applaud your desire to avoid supporting unethical practices. Getting hold of real shark jaws, or any curio items from sharks is not something we’d encourage. Unless you’re able to ensure it’s from a responsible and sustainable source. Some questions to ask include what species of shark is it from? Where and how was the shark caught? And was the shark targeted solely for use in the curio trade? If in doubt, avoid purchasing. Blue Shark Deep-water gulper sharks are among the species targeted for squalene

Shark fins RESPONDING TO THE RECENT UK PETITION a very keen focus on overfishing as the big issue for sharks. And, we need policy-makers to focus on sustainable management as an end goal (see p.12) We’re confident that the UK Government will act to address fin imports. Since the Brexit referendum we’ve been in regular contact with the Government. Together we’re working to agree a strong post-Brexit position on sharks. And fin imports have always been on the agenda. They are listening. But our challenge is to ensure that action on the fin trade isn’t seen as “job done” for sharks. Or distract from the bigger issue at hand. We’re looking to the UK Government to take a strong position on shark fishing. To use their influence and renewed independence to lead Europe and the world in adopting the goals of science-based shark conservation. We must go way beyond banning fins in suitcases to safeguard the future of sharks.

“I’ve attached a photo of an eggcase that I found off of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, USA. I found it on the beach along the actual village of Hatteras. There were lots of skate cases but this particular pod is more elongated than the rest I looked at. Elongated skate or?... What do you CAROTHERSMARYthink?”

Some of our social media followers highlighted the recent petition to ban the import of shark fins. This hit the target of 100,000 signatures in September. And it’s the latest attempt to pressure the Government to call time on what appear to be crazy anomalies in the import system. While we understand the drive behind this petition, we took a decision not to openly support it. We discussed in the last issue of Shark Focus our thoughts on the limitations of online petitions (issue 64, p.10). And we’ve also recently included articles about our take on fin trade bans (issue 62, p.14). The fin trade has long been a lightning rod for the wider issue of shark overfishing. But, fins are no longer (in fact have never been) the only reason that sharks are fished. So, fin trade bans are not a panacea. We need to go further. As the global fin trade is declining, the trade in meat is on the rise. We need to keep UK FIN BAN

Shark CausingsamefromeggcasesEvenofcanproductaandinEggcasesTrust:comeallshapessizes!Asbiologicaltherebealotvariation.betweenthespecies!eventhe most seasoned eggcase hunter to take a second look. The shape and size of an eggcase will often change depending on whether it’s hydrated and flexible, or dehydrated and stiff. Always worth soaking eggcases in a bucket of seawater as they’ll often contract in size and shape when dry. This eggcase is from a Clearnose Skate ( Raja eglanteria ). But it appears to be a slightly ‘stretched’ specimen. This could be a result of it drying out, and/or due to a natural anomaly in the shape of the eggcase. Fascinating findthanks so much for sharing!

EGGCASES

ABDULLAHHALIMIMOHD© sharktrust.org

humanaameasuringwould’vethattoday.stilltosharkpartssizehaveShark.comparisonsmathematicaltotheWhiteNow,scientistsdeterminedtheofdifferentbodyofthisprehistoricusingcomparisonsfivespeciesofsharkfoundinouroceansTheirresultsreveala16mMegalodonhadahead~4.65mlong,tail~3.85mhigh,anddorsalfinastallasaat~1.62m! SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER

NEWSGLOBAL GLOBAL //

GLOBAL news

Researchers have discovered a bizarre looking shark off the coast of Sardinia. A shark lacking skin and teeth! This ‘naked’ Blackmouth Catshark ( Galeus melastomus ) is the first catshark to be discovered without its fundamental tooth-like skin of dermal denticles or teeth! Despite this potentially fatal abnormality, this shark was well developed and healthy. Showing us just how much there’s still to learn about shark biology. HOW MASSIVE WAS THE MEG? Speaking of big fish… we know the Megalodon ( Otodus megalodon ) was huge! But, previously we only had an estimation of its length based on fossil teeth and Angelshark - one of the 22 species belonging to the angel shark family. Shark

Whale

We celebrated the first ever International Angel Shark Day on 26 th June! A day to shine a light on the third most threatened family of elasmobranch in the world. As a way of showcasing the 22 species found globally, and the work being done to protect them, we went live with fascinating online talks from international researchers and conservationists. Head on over to our YouTube channel to watch the recordings, and discover more about the work going on in Wales, the Canary Islands, Chile, Peru, Italy, Greece, Libya, and the Mediterranean! THE NAKED SHARK

6. sharktrust.org/news ESTEVEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.MIGUELLUISMILLSON;GARETH© JUNE GLOBAL // #ANGELSHARKDAYINTERNATIONAL

AUGUST ITALY //

/TheSharkTrust @SharkTrustUK 7. KOSTICH/SHUTTERSTOCK.MARKWARPAINT/SHUTTERSTOCK;©

An angler got the surprise of his life when he caught (and released) a ‘white’ Tope ( Galeorhinus galeus ) off the Isle of Wight. Its white skin and pink tinged fin tips led scientists to believe the genetic condition albinism is the cause for loss of pigmentation. Whilst albinism has been recorded in other species of elasmobranch, it’s very rare. It’s possible this condition affects the survival rate of some individuals, due to them being more highly visible to predators.

3D illustration of a MEGALODON!MEGA

WhitemodernMegalodonFossilizedtoothwithdaySharktoothforcomparison

AUSTRALIA // BIGGEST FISH IN THE OCEAN... DIDN’T WE ALREADY KNOW THIS? We all know it’s the Whale Shark…right?! Yet, there’s been an ongoing debate about whether the male or female of the species held this title. Now, scientists have officially declared female Whale Sharks to be bigger. Following a 10-year study at Ningaloo Reef, it was discovered that whilst males grew quickly, their growth levelled off. Females grew more slowly, eventually surpassing the males. Their larger size is an advantage for carrying lots of pups.

In what’s thought to be a world first, a Critically Endangered Flapper Skate eggcase has been successfully cared for in captivity. After an 18-month incubation period, a male Flapper Skate measuring 27cm was filmed hatching from the eggcase. These findings provide further insight into the gestation period of this highly vulnerable species. This young skate is now happily living in the Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area. UK // RARE ‘WHITE’ SHARK CAUGHT OFF THE BRITISH ISLES

OCTOBER SCOTLAND // FLAPPER SKATE EGGCASE SUCCESSFULLY HATCHES IN CAPTIVITY

ROBERTSON-BROWNNICK© sharktrust.org8. DISPELLING SHARK IN THIS SECTION How we can all change the CONVERSATION about sharks 10 . Drop the Toaster Time to Shift Focus 10 . Don’t Be a Parrot The Repetition Trap 12 . The Role of the Media in Shark Conservation Wobbegong: Sharks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

MYTHSH

ow many of us haven’t had that moment when we read or hear something about sharks that makes us want to cry out “NOOOO!!!”. Starting with Jaws and leading right up to modern-day tabloid headlines. Exaggeration and mistruth seem to follow sharks like pilot fish catching a ride. We all have times when we want to set the record straight, to “defend” sharks. And over the years, we’ve seen no end of imaginative ways of doing so. But it appears that nothing is really changing in the way that the wider world talks about sharks. What are we doing wrong? Over the next few pages, we take a look at some of the key issues in how sharks are being talked about. And meet a couple of the scientists who’ve stood up to challenge the norms and suggested the best way forward.

13 . Key Messages & Takeaways 14 . Fact or Factoid 15 . The Danger of Crying Wolf

sharktrust.org 9. SHARK

10. sharktrust.org

B y the end of this article, you might be wondering why I wrote it in the first place! But read on anyway. We all know the reputation sharks have been given makes it difficult to gain support for conservation efforts. Jaws is held largely responsible. But this is reinforced with the regular stream of “Monster Shark” stories that flood mainstream media. So, what do we do? We fight back. We challenge the misunderstandings of course. And that’s what’s been happening. For over 20 years. It’s got quite imaginative. We’ve had comparisons with toasters, hippos, vending machines, selfies, bees, mosquitos and let’s not forget, the deadly coconut. We’ve had a bit of fun with it. But behind the fun is a serious desire to challenge the over-emphasis on “shark attacks” that we hear about in the media.“Shark attacks kill 12 people each year, while humans kill millions of sharks”. Every time I come across a version of this – online, in an aquarium, on TV, in presentations – it makes me shudder. Because statistically this might well be true. But fear isn’t cured by numbers. And there’s a message hidden in THE GETTING TO GRIPS THE SCARY SHARK

DROP

DON’T BE A PARROT! THE REPETITION TRAP DON’T JUST REPEAT BACK WHAT THEY SAY Instead of debating with the opposition, get on the front foot and repeat your key point. When Nixon saidfamously“Iam not a crook” it made Instead,“he’simmediatelyeveryonethinkacrook”.heshould have said: “I am an honest man”. When we repeat an opponent’s unhelpful position, even to refute it, we’re reinforcingstillit.

TOASTER…

those well-meaning words: “Sharks attack and kill people”. Is that really what we want people to take away? We need to be a bit more careful when we set out to defend sharks. This is a classic example of what Ralph Underhill of Framing Matters would describe as a communication trap. He calls it parroting. When we try to refute an idea, we can be guilty of just reinforcing it (see below). So, what should we do? Well firstly, as Ralph suggests, we should focus on what’s good about sharks. Talk about them as a diverse group, talk about their incredible biology. And talk about positive experiences we’ve had with them. But if the old a##ack line comes up, Chris Pepin-Neff offers some advice. He’s been working for many years on reframing the issue. He suggests that the word “attack” is too MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SHARKS GO BACK A LONG WAY. THE FIRST WAVE GOES BACK TO “THAT FILM” BUT OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR, PAUL COX, LOOKS AT WHAT WE’VE LEARNT ABOUT DEALING WITH THE MYTHS WHAT STARTED WITH ‘JAWS’ IS REINFORCED WITH THE REGULAR STREAM OF “MONSTER SHARK” STORIES THAT FLOOD THE MEDIA

11. TAKEN

By using those words, regardless of what else we say, we’re strengthening that narrative. Shark interactions with humans, he argues, take a number of forms. But these are, too often, grouped under the “shark attack” banner. Instead he’s put forward a system of four categories for scientists, the media, policymakers and everyone else to use when talking about shark-human incidents. These are “shark sightings”, “shark encounters”, “shark bites” and “fatal shark bites”. Using these phrases thoughtfully gives us a more accurate description of the variety of events. And it removes the idea of premeditation. This subtle change could make a big difference. So, what’s the message here? Simply this. If we want people to stop talking about shark attacks, we all need to stop talking about shark attacks. Completely. So, drop the toaster stuff and move on. And that’s why maybe I should never have written this!

POSITIVE COMMUNICATION TOOLKIT –CONSERVATION OPTIMISM” SCAN THE QR CODE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COMMUNICATION TRAPS. SUESSE/SHUTTERSTOCK©

TOASTER…GRIPSWITHSHARKMYTH toxic and has to be avoided.

WARNING!

“The words shark attack can create a perception of a premeditated crime, lowering the public’s threshold for accepting shark bite incidents as random acts of nature. The narrative establishes villains and victims, cause and effect, perceptions of public risk and a problem to be solved.”

BUT WE STILL FEEL THE EFFECTS TO THIS DAY. MYTHS AND HOW WE MIGHT SHIFT THE FOCUS. sharktrust.org FROM “THE

WHY EVERYTHING YOU

WORK HE’S

In short, if you learned about shark conservation just from reading the news, you’d want to help. But you’d have no idea how to effectively do so.

S ince scientific experts aren’t the ones who make laws, it’s important that concerned citizens and policymakers get the true picture on the world’s biggest environmental challenges. When we misunderstand what the problem is and what the available solutions are, we’re much less likely to be able to solve the problem in an effective, evidencebased manner. I’m a shark conservation biologist who studies not only how to effectively protect sharks, but what people know about this issue. And I’m here to tell you that we have a big problem on our hands! While it’s great that more people than ever before care about sharks and want to help them, many are badly misinformed about what problems need to be solved. And what the available solutions are! A

new research paper I led Inaccurate and Biased Global Media Coverage Underlies Public Misunderstanding of Shark Conservation Threats and Solutions, looks at a major contributor to this large-scale misunderstanding. We looked at nearly 2,000 news articles about shark conservation from the Englishspeaking world. And we came to the inescapable conclusion that the way shark conservation is discussed in the news is shockingly inaccurate. If you were learning about shark conservation exclusively from reading newspaper coverage of this topic, you might be convinced that shark finning is the largest - or only - threat to sharks. It isn’t. And it hasn’t been for a long time! You also wouldn’t appreciate the significant and growing trade in shark meat. You’d probably wrongly believe that the only solution that exists for sharks is

By David Shiffman, Ph.D.

threat facingissharksthebiggest banning the trade in shark fins. And you’d have little or no idea about sustainable fisheries management tools, which have much greater support from experts. And much more evidence showing that they work. You’d rarely hear about the most effective shark conservation organisations who could really use your help. And you’d have no idea what conservation issues are facing the shark species in greatest need of conservation attention.

WAVE.

THE “JAWS EFFECT” CREATED A FIRST WAVE OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT SHARKS. BUT ARE NOW IN THE OF A SECOND DIFFERENT BUT AS DAVID SHIFFMAN PHD TELLS ABOUT THE BEEN CONSERVATION.

GRIP

DAMAGING.

Worse still, you probably wouldn’t know what you don’t know! If you want to help, it’s important to discover the reality of what’s happening from experts. Unfortunately, our study shows that reading the newspaper is not an effective way to do that. KNOW ABOUT

SHARK CONSERVATION IS WRONG (IF YOU READ THE PAPERS!)

DOING ON THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN SHAPING OUR VIEWS ON SHARK

sharktrust.org12. MACKENZIE/SHUTTERSTOCKROBYNTAYLOR/SHUTTERSTOCK;CHARLES©

ARGUABLY JUST

It’s probably no surprise that we found this research so interesting. Regular readers might be tiring of hearing us talk about the importance of focusing on overfishing. And the need to move on from finning as THE issue. We know from experience how important it is not to bind up policymakers time with things that feel good but make little difference to the big picture. We know how important credibility is when putting the case for reform. There’s no room for bad science if you’re serious about conservation. We feel very strongly about the importance of this. It goes right to the core of our beliefs about what we do. By supporting us, you’re already going a long way to addressing the need to focus on science-based conservation. And we need that support. We need everyone to be critical and to challenge what we read in the papers. Not just the stuff about “Monster Sharks”. But also where we see old arguments and misleading statistics recycled at the expense of genuine progress. In David’s paper he talks about the danger of “crying wolf” – exaggerated claims and statistics quoted out of context can come back to haunt us. In these pages we go to great lengths to ensure that everything we print can be backed up by evidence and presents an honest picture. We see way too many examples where this isn’tWe’vehappening.beenquietly (and not so quietly) campaigning on the need to change the narrative for a few years now. It’s a vital next step. Next year, we’re gearing up to be far more vocal about this conservationists,Everyoneissue.–scientists,educators – has a role to play in being far more careful about what we say. And, far more importantly, what people hear. This study is a call to action. We intend to answer that call.

biggest DOWNLOAD THE FULL ARTICLE FOR FREE: THE WAY INACCURATEISINISCONSERVATIONSHARKDISCUSSEDTHENEWSSHOCKINGLY KEY MESSAGES TO TAKEAWAY: For more info on how we talk about sharks check out Issue 62 p.19. 03.02.01.Sharkfinningisnotthemainthreattosharksanymore–overfishingis.Sustainablesharkfisheriesarepossible.Andevidenceshowstheycanwork.Thesharksthataremostthreatenedareoftentheleastwellknown. 13.sharktrust.org SO WHAT? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?

FACT14. OR FACTOID ARE SHARKS ENDANGERED? AS WITH ALL things shark, it’s not that simple. The best answer is “some are, someWearen’t”.needto look to the IUCN Red List to answer this question. The latest published summary is from 2014. This shows that 65 species of sharks and rays were at that time classed as Endangered or Critically Endangered. With a further 116 in the other threatened category Vulnerable. These three categories describe the species most at risk. But look at the almost half of species that are Data Deficient. This shows the enormous uncertainty not only in estimating shark mortality but also in assessing status. CR ENDANGEREDCRITICALLY 1.9%4.3%11.2%12.2%34.9%45.5% ENVUNTLCDD DEFICIENTDATA CONCERNLEAST ENDANGEREDVULNERABLETHRETENEDNEAR 20 An estimated 1/4 of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction and require action without delay. 1/4 HAMMERHEADGREAT (EN) SHARKNURSE(DD)GUITARFISHSHOVELNOSESKATEPITA(CR)(NT)EPAULETTESHARK(LC) 116 127 472258 45 SOURCE: Global Shark and Ray Initiative (2015), based on Dulvy et. al. (2014) CR ENDANGEREDCRITICALLY 1.9%4.3%11.2%12.2%34.9%45.5% ENVUNTLCDD DEFICIENTDATA CONCERNLEAST ENDANGEREDVULNERABLETHRETENEDNEAR SPECIES OF SHARKS AND RAYS HAD BEEN ASSESSED ON THE IUCN RED LIST IN 2014 SKATEPITA(CR) GUITARFISHSHOVELNOSE(NT) EPAULETTESHARK(LC) 116 127 SOURCE: Global Shark and Ray Initiative (2015), based on Dulvy et. al. (2014) SPECIES OF SHARK AND RAY HAD BEEN ASSESSED ON THE IUCN RED LIST IN 2014 1,038 Factoid /’ˈfaktoi d/ noun A piece of unreliable information believed to be true because of the way it is presented or repeated in print. We decided to dig into a couple of the most quoted facts about sharks... Thanks to a huge effort over the last few years, we’re now eagerly awaiting the results of a full review of shark and ray statuses.conservationSovery soon we could have more accurate answers. And be better placed to set priorities.conservation sharktrust.org

THE NUMBERS we so often see were arrived at by (understandably) using assumptions or estimates where solid information wasn’t available. That’s important in how we present them to the world. The fact they’re based on 20-year-old data should signal caution when representing the current situation. We also see inconsistency in how they’re used – e.g. X sharks killed for their fins, X sharks killed by having fins removed, etc. Perhaps the more concerning thing than the numbers themselves is the fact that we still don’t KNOW. We do have accurate figures for recorded catch. This has declined about 22% since 2000. But illegal and unreported fisheries still present a challenge. We can still only estimate their impact. Whatever the number, it seems the majority of shark species are being caught at above sustainable levels and improved fisheries management is urgently needed.

15.

WE’VE ALL SEEN the huge numbers. For many, these statistics can be a persuasive call to action. For others they might signal a hopeless situation, or even that there are too many sharks in the sea! But why do we see different numbers quoted? And how reliable are the statistics? The answers lie in two major studies: 1 A 2006 examination of the Hong Kong Shark Fin Trade (Clarke et. al. 2006) 2 A 2013 study estimating total fishing mortality (Worm et. al, 2013) HOW MANY SHARKS ARE KILLED BY HUMANS EACH YEAR? FIN TRADE HKG 73 Million sharks killed for their fins Research source: Shelly Clarke et. al. (2006) The study actually showed up to 73 million sharks 'traded' for their fins every year. So, not all were killed for their fins. A subtle but important distinction. IN YEAR 2000 1.7M tonnes fins = 38M sharks FISHING MORTALITY IN YEAR 2000 Estimate made up of: Research source: Boris Worm et. al. (2013) Finned sharks 63% Recorded catch 27% Illegal and unreported 8% Died after release 2% 100 Million sharks a year 0 300M200M100M50M 150M 250M 26M 63M73M 273M FIN TRADE 38M LOWER UPPER LOWERUPPER 100M Published global estimates for 2000 These estimates are based on data from 2000. This predates much of the progress that's been made on finning bans, fishing restrictions and trade measures. MEDIAN MORTALITYFISHING

THERE’S DANGER IN “CRYING WOLF”? David Shiffman (p.12) suggests that if we misrepresent or exaggerate data then we risk “crying wolf”. We create a situation where people don’t believe us when we later try to accurately describe a problem.Thatmatters. It’s reason to be very cautious when throwing numbers around to make a case. Following the science means being sticklers for accuracy. And, let’s face it, the problems facing sharks are bad enough without needing to exaggerate! sharktrust.org

BLUE SHARK SCIENTIFIC NAME: Prionace glauca FAMILY: Carcharhinidae MAXIMUM SIZE: 3.8m DIET: predominatelyfeeders.OpportunisticDietsmall fishes and squid, but will also eat cuttlefish, lobster, shrimp, carrion and sea birds. DISTRIBUTION: All temperate and tropical waters. In tropical waters they’re found much deeper, where it’s cooler. HABITAT: Often found in the open ocean from the surface to depths of 600m. Prefers temperatures of 12-20°C but can tolerate 8–30°C. STATUS: Near ThreatenedMAAGTDEPETER©

SHARK

stepped up at ICCAT, championing the call for a prohibition for North Atlantic mako. And the UK - having exited the EU - are now an independent voice in a number of high-seas fisheries management organisations, including ICCAT. Having previously championed the scientific advice for mako within the EU, to no avail. The UK’s first act as an ICCAT Party was to add their name to the science-based mako proposal led by Canada! So, rest assured, we’ll continue to campaign for mako at ICCAT, throughout and beyond this November’s meeting. And we’ll always continue to put science at the heart of shark conservation.

” THERE

18.

ALI HOOD

FACTS ARE the constant around which our work revolves.And,if you follow us on social media, particularly Twitter, you’ll be used to our pleas to decision makers to ‘put science at the heart of shark conservation’.

While it’s a tenet of the work we do, it can seem like a struggle in some fora. Take Shortfin Mako. The fastest shark in the sea, and arguably one of the most pressing conservation crises for sharks in the Atlantic. The warning signs have been ignored for years. And now the scientific advice* couldn’t be clearer: prohibit retention of North Atlantic Shortfin Mako without exception and restrict the South Atlantic catch. Despite the projections showing sobering outcomes if fishing pressure continues, there are those who wish to maintain the right to retain mako –the EU in particular. Only last year the EU championed mako sharks at the CITES conference. And the dire ICCAT scientific advice was pivotal to the successful adoption of the CITES Appendix II listing – which now requires countries to control international trade to ensure sustainability. Yet the EU continues to support retention of mako from the very population of Atlantic sharks on which the scientists recommend a ban. Nonsensical – from the scientific perspective. And as advocates this hypocrisy is intensely frustrating. The EU takes the lion’s share of Atlantic mako. So, their willingness to follow the science would result in significant conservation benefits for this exceptionally vulnerable species. But the reality is that it’s not only science that drives decision making. And in the case of Shortfin Mako, it seems its high value – predominantly for meat – drives decision making within the EU at this time. But there’s room for optimism. Canada has Reef Sharks “ IS ROOM FOR OPTIMISM... SCIENCE AT THE HEART OF CONSERVATIONSHARK DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION

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WALTER/SHUTTERSTOCK.LUKASLEA;JAMES©

COX SHARK

WELL THAT’S A YEAR no-one is going to be sorry to wave goodbye to! Thank you 2020 for showing us the true meaning of “working from home”. I’ve always liked the odd day working at the dining room table. But six months is pushing it! It has to be said (again) that the team have done a great job under imperfect circumstances. We’re all looking forward to getting back to our desks in the new year. As I said in the last issue of Shark Focus we’ve had some great efforts from our supporters. Working hard and playing hard to raise much needed funds for sharks. We’ve lost a whole year of fundraising and it looks like next year will also be a difficult one. So, all that effort is very much appreciated.Butit’snot all bad news. As we head into the new year, we’ve got an exciting new project taking shape. You might have noticed that we’ve been talking about how we talk about sharks quite a bit of late. Especially as part of the theme of this issue. There’s a reason for that. We believe it really matters. What we say about sharks not only allows us to get more people interested and engaged. It also directly influences the change that we want to make in the world. So, we’re going to be doing a lot more of it. More comment, more infographics, more videos, more championing of sciencebased conservation. If you follow us on social media, you might have seen some changes over the last few months. You’ll see a lot more coming up next year. So, if you don’t follow us then please, give it a go. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – each with a slightly different feel and focus. But all 100% Shark Trust. If social media isn’t for you, then do sign up for our newslettermonthlytokeep the shark news trickling into your inbox. Visit the website and scroll to the bottom to add your name to our mailing list. We’ll also be reaching out through the power of Zoom to clubs, societies and schools in the UK and further afield. So, if you want to share your love of sharks with friends, colleagues or pupils, get in touch through the website. Support for our work is growing all the time. It feels like we’re all appreciating the natural world a little more. 2021 marks the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. It can only be a good time to shout from the rooftops about the positive change we can achieve with science-based shark conservation. So, here’s to the New Year (hopefully a bit better than the old one)!

“ ” WHAT

Shortfin

sharktrust.org

PAUL talk MANAGING DIRECTOR Mako WE SAY ABOUT SHARKS... INFLUENCES THE CHANGE WE WANT TO MAKE IN THE WORLD

19.

Providingencounters.us with a wealth of improveoffromtogethernowinformation.valuableWehopetobringdataallcornerstheUKtohelpourunderstanding of sharks, skates and rays. And identify localised population trends. This year, we produced a new set of advisory materials on responsible shark and ray angling. And we shared and distributed a poster to anglers. Including through the Cefas ‘Sea Angler Diary’ - another recording platform for fishers to record their catch. This outlines ‘best practice’ handling advice for catch and release, encouraging releasing from the side of the boat. And the current conservation elasmobranchcatch(prohibited/restrictedstatuslimitsetc.)ofkeyspecies.

By working together, we’re able to reach and involve a wider network of recreational anglers in citizen science and responsible angling. We’ll continue to expand our collaborative efforts. To encourage citizen science reporting, best practice code of conduct, and responsible angling. All of which will help us reach our goal of a sustainable future for all sharks, skates and rays.

sharktrust.org/anglers

20.

OUR AIM? TO WORK WITH ANGLERS TO PROTECTSPECIESTHREATENED

FORANGLINGBETTERPROJECTUPDATE: “ ”

PHOTOS/SHUTTERSTOCKMPH©

T here are around one million recreational sea-anglers in the UK. Forming an important part of coastal communities, anglers are uniquely placed to observe and collect ‘real-time’ information on sharks, skates and rays. The UK boasts an incredible diversity of elasmobranchs. But, more than a quarter of species found in UK and Irish waters are threatened. Our aim? To work with anglers to protect threatened species. And to preserve the diversity of elasmobranchs for future generations. Over the years, we’ve provided resources and advice for responsible angling. Our Angling Recording Project also enables anglers to record their catch and release

sharktrust.org/falklands

togetherOurEllermanfrom(FIFD),FisheriesFalklandprojectcollaborativewiththeIslandsDepartmentwithfundingtheJohnFoundation.aim?Toworktowards species-specific reporting and sustainable fisheries management for sharks, skates and rays around the Falkland Theyelasmobranchs.areFalklandsIslands.watersahotspotforalsosupporta foreign fleet fishery managed by the FIFD, where trawlers and longliners catch and land large volumes of skate and ray. The first step to managing fisheries responsibly is to know about the species being caught. But here lies a problem. With more than 18 species of skate and ray, identification can be tricky. Currently, they’re reported as a single mixed species assemblage, such as ‘ray’. Reporting

started looking at eggcases! This year, we launched two identification placards and comprehensivea ID guide. The placards are designed for mounting aboard fishing vessels. They differentiate between the most commonly caught and similar skate species. And have been translated into Spanish and Korean - the main languages used by the fishery. The 32page ID guide advises on biology, ecology and morphology of 18 skates, one ray and six sharks. And includes examples of eggcases. These have been distributed to the Falkland Islands, enabling important species-specific data to beEggcasesgathered.from the Falklands could also provide informationimportantabout the distribution of communityFalklandreportsreceivingweelasmobranchs.egg-layingless-understoodtheseSo,lookforwardtoeggcasefromtheIslandssoon! PLACARDS HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO SPANIAH AND

PROJECTISLANDSFALKLANDUPDATE: Working towards species-specific reporting and sustainable fisheries management for sharks, skates and rays in the Falklands... Toni & Georgina (FIFD) receive ID placards

PRACTICEBEST

“ ” OUR

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IN 2017 we launched a

Our by species is vital. Enabling us to observe changes in species diversity and distribution.Overthe past few years, with local partners, we’ve been compiling research and informationcataloguingfrom fisheries observers. Using this, we then developed a range of resources to help identify incaughttailoredInitiallyofexpandedbeganSincespecies.thisprojectwe’verapidlyourrangeIDmaterials.theywereforskatesasbycatchthePatagonian Toothfish Longline Fishery. Then, in 2018, we included other encounteredelasmobranchsand

“ ”

2021...AHEADLOOKINGTO

We also ran our online event For the Love of Sharks in September. Although we’d (of course) loved to have had everyone in the same room, it was a great success. We thoroughly enjoyed the talks by our incredible speakers; Paul Rose, Ali Hood, Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown, and Dr James Lea. And, for those of you who attended: THANK YOU. You were a fantastic audience!

Over the next six months we’ll be reviewing our fundraising events and looking at how we can move forward into this new COVID-19 world. We’ll be very much adapting to the challenge. Whatever those changes might be. And we hope that you - our valued, enthusiastic fundraisers - will change with us. Together we can keep making a positive change for sharks. We’re delighted to still be a charity partner for the South West Coast 2 Coast challenge next July. And we’d love you to join team shark! sharktrust.org/eventsVisit

THANK YOU, YOU WERE A FANTASTIC AUDIENCE!

To celebrate the evening, SHARK SUPs kindly donated an all-round paddleboard for us to give away. Complete with all the accessories. Congratulations go to our winner - Trevor! We hope you enjoy!

A NEW ERA OF FUNDRAISING

Adapting to the challenge in a strange new COVID-19 world... O

22. CHALLENGEACTIONDALY;RYAN© sharktrust.org/fundraise FUN draising

James Lea tagging a Tiger Shark in the Seychelles

ver the last six months we’ve been adapting to working at home. Getting to grips with online team working. And, considering the way we fundraise in the future. Throughout this time we’ve had some awesome fundraisers, who’ve taken on a variety of challenges. Climbing up and down the stairs, swimming widths of a river, sponsored walks in shark outfits, and selling things online. Big efforts such as these, make a big difference to us. As does every other bit of support you provide.

sharktrust.org/fundraise 23. FUN draising

you’ll

KNOW

our work.

ON SUNDAY 23 RD AUGUST, Bertie Maguire (age 5), his sisters Rosa and Sheba (age 10 & 8) and their Aunty, Rosa Aers (age 40!), swam 200 widths of the River Cam in Cambridge. It was, apparently “pretty freezing cold”. But they did it to raise money for the Shark Trust. Bertie is a massive shark fan and has educated his family in all things shark and taught them to love and respect sharks. He’s a member of the Shark Trust and wants to do something to help protect and save sharks. So he and his Aunty came up with the river swim plan. As Bertie says: “I loveThesharks”.swim took an hour and a half to complete, and there were a few swim invasions plus some near misses by Cambridge punts. Everyone had blue toes by the end of it. But it felt amazing to be able to raise money for the Shark Trust. Bertie’s sister Sheba said “We all had fun” and his biggest sister Rosa concluded “We did it for the sharks”. Lydia (Mum) ALL SHARKS – bright and beautiful, great and small, weird and wonderful – we love them all. And this year we’re excited to be launching our limited-edition calendar, which celebrates them in style. Over the years we’ve received lots of requests for a Shark Trust calendar. And, this year we finally had the perfect opportunity to create one. So, over the past few months we’ve been busy working to bring you our LOVE SHARKS Calendar for 2021. It’s fun, colourful, and created specially for shark nutsWitheverywhere!thedesigns almost complete, all we needed to bring this project to life was funding to cover our printing costs. So, early in September, we launched a six-week Kickstarter campaign to raise £2,500. We were delighted to reach our target with time to spare! Thank you so much to everyone who supported our campaign. We hope you’re enjoying your rewards. Printed on recycled paper and ready to hang on your wall, our calendars went out to backers in November. We also did an extra print run. So, if you missed out on getting yourself a copy, you can still order one from our online shop. Visit our website to find out more. You can also discover more about the inspiration behind the designs in our blog at sharktrust.org/behind-the-designs YOUR is packed full of those darker, All proceeds from the sale of this goes towards supporting So also contributingbeto

EGGCASES JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER ABOUT CALENDARTHIS This Shark Trust calendar was created for shark showcasesincrediblecelebrateannevertoholidaysallyear.throughoutimportantyoueverywhere,supporterstohelpkeeptrackofdatestheItalsoincludesthejawsomerelatingsharks.Soyou’llmissoutonopportunitytotheseanimals.Eachmontha different shark and

calendar

gloomier months.

fun facts to brighten even

shark Discoverconservation.more about sharks at www.sharktrust.org CREATED SPECIALLY FOR SHARK NUTS EVERYWHERE... Established in 1997 to safegurad the future of sharks through positive change. We achieve this through science, education, influence and action. Registered Charity No. 1064185 Registered Company No. 3396164 © Hannah Tarrant/The Shark Trust 2021 THE ULTIMATE CALENDAR FOR SHARK NUTS! SHARK CALENDAR 19 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 JANUARY Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 411 12 13 14 15 16 17 4 9 13 14 15 26 28 30 31 AUGUST 3 26 28 MAY 3 4 5 7 16 18 26 28 30 DECEMBER L CALENDARSHARKSVE “WE DID IT FOR THE SHARKS”

S o named for their short, blunt snout and cantankerous nature. Generally solitary animals, Bull Sharks like to be left alone and can be very territorial. They’re also known to ram their prey, or potential rivals. Adopting a hunting strategy known as bump-and-bite. When food is scarce, Bull Sharks can slow down their digestion, enabling them to eat less at a time. To avoid being eaten by predators, they also have a neat little escape plan. They’ll regurgitate their food to act as a distraction, while they make a hasty get-away.

Probably one of the most incredible things about Bull Sharks is their remarkable ability to survive in freshwater. Only around 5% of shark species can, and most of them only for a short time. Yet the Bull Shark may live in freshwater for years. They can travel huge distances up rivers and have been found as far as 2,500 miles from the sea up the Amazon River.

Key to the Bull Shark’s ability to thrive in these two environments are their: KIDNEYS - these produce large amounts of urine, enabling the rapid removal of salts and excess water. When in freshwater the Bull Shark will urinate over 20 times more than in the sea.

ACADEMY/SHUTTERSTOCKFOODIES©

Their age determines where they live. Estuaries and freshwater habitats provide relative safety for young pups to develop. Here they’re out of reach from many predators, such as other shark species and larger Bull Sharks. As they get older, Bull Sharks develop more of a tolerance for saltwater and start venturing out to sea. Reproduction is one of the main reasons Bull Sharks travel into rivers. Females will often give birth here or in estuaries by river mouths. Bull Sharks have been seen leaping up river rapids, just like salmon do, to reach inlandTheylakes.give birth to live young every two years in late spring and summer. Although, in warmer places this may take place year-round. Females mature at 18 years, males at 14-15 years. And they can live up to 24 years in the wild. A HUNTING STRATEGY KNOWN AS BUMP-AND-BITE

24.

BULL SHARK

sharktrust.org/creature-feature

LIVER – produces urea as required depending on the salinity of the environment. Yet even Bull Sharks have their limits. A recent study discovered that they can only survive in a freshwater habitat for 4 years. This is likely due to a lack of food. Clearly both habitats are important to their life cycle.

The biggest issue marine sharks face when entering freshwater is maintaining the correct balance of water and salt in their body. To prevent massive water intake through osmosis, their body must quickly remove excess salts. Otherwise, they could swell to the point of bursting.

{THEY} ADOPT

CREATURE FEATURE

Bull Shark

THE UNUSUAL EYES

TOM ‘THE BLOWFISH’ HIRD’S

Whale Shark

STATUS: ThreatenedNear much for survival. Well, while new studies will begin to unravel this mystery, I myself wonder if the denticles are there as protection from plankton? Any biker will tell you that speeding along and having a bug smash into your face is hardly a nice event. So, helmets come with a visor. Is that what we’re seeing here? Plankton, when viewed under a microscope, is a hellish nightmare of hard spines and defensive ridges. If you ram your head into that all day long, you’d want some kind of protection! Plus, on the occasions that Whale Sharks feed on huge balls of fish, scales themselves are like armour. So, once again, sticking your head into a writhing mass of small but muscular, panicking fish would be a lot nicer if you could protect your eyes. This is where the eye retraction may play a role, enabling them to pull away from the thrashing baitSo,balls.why are these beautiful giants still so protective of their ocular abilities? Well, further research is needed. But one thing’s for sure...the world’s biggest fish will be catching the eye of scientists for years to come!

FOR MORE ON THIS STUDY SEARCH FOR ARMOURED EYES & TOMITA THINK A CONTACT LENS. BUT MADE FROM ARMOUR PLATES...

HABITAT: Found at 0-150m deep, but usually no deeper than 30m.

IT’S skinthatandamongKNOWNWELLsharkrayfanstheofour favourite critters is pretty darn impressive. Dermal denticles provide incredible protection and streamlining. But the Whale Shark has been found to have an unusual use for these littlePerhapsteeth. uniquely among sharks, Whale Sharks, it seems, have dermal denticles on the surface of their eyes. Now, this isn’t some kind of eyelid, this is the actual eye. Think a contact lens. But made from armour plates. This study also showed how much Whale Sharks can retract their eyes into their body. Comparable to the retraction seen when frogs pull their eyes right back into their sockets. That’s one mighty pull! So, what does all this mean? Well essentially, it means that the eyes of the Whale Shark are tougher than a $2 steak! The dermal denticles covering the eye protect it from abrasion and scouring. While the retraction and rotation of the eyeball, protects from any out-and-out attacks, punctures, or impacts. What seems to really have baffled the scientists involved is why? A White Shark might go to such lengths to protect its eyes. It’s an apex predator after all, and sight plays a key role in its hunting strategy. But Whale Sharks cruise along, mouths wide, sucking up the smallest morsels from the plankton. And – occasionally – ramming huge balls of small schooling fish. This conundrum is compounded by the fact that the area of the Whale Shark’s brain associated with sight is pretty small. And they’ve long onnotconsideredbeentorelytheireyes OF THE SHARK blowfish

sharktrust.org 25.

MILLERSTEVEN©

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Carcharhinus leucas MAXIMUM SIZE: 4m DIET: PrimarilyVaried.fish but will also eat crabs, shrimp, starfish, seaurchins, turtles, birds and dolphins. RANGE: Worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers.

WHALE

When we heard that Whale Sharks had eyes like frogs, we had to know more... SCIENTIFIC BREAKDOWN

THE

26. sharktrust.org/careers

HIGHS - WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? Revealing new behaviours of the animals we work on. I’m incredibly motivated by the process of ‘finding things out’. This ranges from the animals we work on, to the technologies we use, to the methods used to analyse data. My job allows me to find ways that we can use technology and data to improve marine conservation and stewardship of our environment.

WHAT DOES A ‘TYPICAL’ WORKING DAY LOOK LIKE? A normal day at University is typically very diverse. It’ll include discussions with people in our research group, helping to guide their work, and deciding on best strategies for analysis of data and publishing. In a normal day I’ll also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research students for their projects. As well as teach students at all levels across a range of topics including conservation biology and marine ecology. My day will also involve a whole range of other tasks, such as ordering equipment, fieldwork logistics, animal ethics and welfare. I’ll also spend time working with current and potential funders to develop grant ideas. TO HAPPEN IN YOUR JOB? Having an orca eat one of our study Atlantic bluefin tuna with its electronic tag still attached. We tagged the fish off Falmouth, the fish went to the Mediterranean, most likely to breed, left the Mediterranean, and then was eaten by an orca. The orca then ejected the tag after two weeks having swam from Portugal to northern France. The tag then switched on and transmitted all the data back about the Matt and his team are well known for their work on Basking Sharks

WHAT’S THE STRANGEST THING

I’M INSPIRED BY THE BLUENESS AND REMOTENESS OF OUR OCEANS

LOWS – WHAT’S THE WORST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? Seeing my workplace environment (the sea) decline, driven by climate change, overfishing and other human activity in the sea.

4 In the SharksspringearlyBaskingmove from deeper waters to the surface. They then begin to progress northwards while looking for their planktonic prey. migration. A few months later it washed up on a beach on the French coast and we physically got it back. It was only when we had the full dataset, having downloaded it off the tag, that we realised what had happened. Quite the journey for the tag, the fish and the orca.

I have an MSc in Oceanography (Southampton), MRes in Marine Biology (Plymouth), and PhD in Biological Sciences (Exeter). After completing these degrees, I managed to secure a post-doctoral position investigating biodiversity around renewable energy devices (wave machines, wind farms and tidal arrays) and how to manage these installations to harness low-carbon energy and enhance the local environment. After that position I managed to secure a Lectureship at the University of Exeter, and now work at their Streatham Campus. My team are based at the Penryn Campus too, where I first started my PhD.

HOW DID YOU LAND YOUR Matthew Witt CURRENT POSITION?

SHARKSBASKINGABOUTKNOW

ofwithinmuchthough1500m,spendoftheiryeartheupper200mthewatercolumn.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE THIS CAREER? My fascination of science and technology in the marine realm. I’m inspired by the blueness and remoteness of our oceans. Underwater robotics, submersibles, earth observing satellites, deep-water camera and animal tracking systems, all alongside the beauty of our planet and the amazing life histories of marine animals, inspire me.

2 They can dive to nearly

While northtravelofwinteringAtlanticnortheastsharksmanyinthespendtimetothewestIreland,otherswillasfarsouthasAfrica.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN WHEN STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? That it’s OK to fail. Failures can be more useful than successes in the process of learning. WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN? Be aspirational and know that there will always be work to do – so don’t let those feelings of being overwhelmed by work overtake you. Find the happy balance between being led and moulded by those around you, while being who you want to be.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT ON THIS CAREER PATH? Persistence, tenacity and using the power of the internet to find the science that needs doing. Keep asking ‘why?’ and digging through materials until you get to the truth of a matter.

NAME: Matthew Witt JOB TITLE ORGANISATION:& Associate Professor in Natural WE NOW (THANKS TO MATT’S TEAM)

27.sharktrust.org/careers

recordingtrackingincludingofusechallenging.speciesbehaviourtheconflict.andofthegroupExeter.UniversityEnvironment,ofMyresearchworksatintersectionmarineecologyhuman-wildlifeStudyingdistributionandofmarineisoftenSoweawiderangetechnologies,satelliteandvideosystems. THINGS

1 Basking Sharks can return to the same places each year for feeding, breeding and overwintering – a behaviour known as seasonal site fidelity.

Wow! What an amazing experience Andrew!! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and passion for sharks. Dive ANDREW, AGE 8

STAR LETTER

CORAL SHARK BY ANGELO (AGE 8)

“We went to Scotland from our house in Newcastle up to Deep Sea World. My mam and Dad had bought me a dive experience as a birthday present because they know how much I love sharks! I was so excited! ...I got suited up and went into the water with the sharks. It was so cold! They were huge! I was thinking if Sandtigers are this big, imagine how big a Great White is! Their teeth were sticking out and even though they looked a bit scary, they were very calm and curious and kept swimming very close to have a look at me. They were awesome! I love sharks because they’re great to watch in the water. I feel sorry for them because a lot of them die from fishing or hunting and it’s not right... Some of my friends are scared of sharks but I always tell them they don’t need to be. I like to tell them all the facts I know too. Because I want them to realise how cool they are! The more people realise how awesome they are, the more people will protect them. When I’m older I want to study sharks more and teach people about them and my big goal is to dive with Great Whites!

OSCAR

A A WOW! FANTASTIC!

CRABNARDON BY LEONARDO (AGE 10)

YOUR LETTERS WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! WRITE TO US AT FOCUS@SHARKTRUST.ORG AND YOU MAY APPEAR IN OUR NEXT ISSUE… SUPER SHARKS Check

FIN-TASTIC! Big thanks to Oscar for raising an incredible £156. Well and truly beating his goal of £100. Fintastic job Oscar! This will help support our Stop Shark Finning campaign. (AGE 7) out the amazing art below, imagined sharks with some incredible it be fantastic if these really existed? Big thanks to Angelo, Tommy and Leonardo for sending in their work.

Superpower: Locates animals in danger from plastic and pollution. Then uses its crab arms to free animals trapped in nets and rubbish.

Deep

showcasing

sharktrust.org/pups-zone29.

GLASS SPEARHEAD SHARK BY TOMMY (AGE 9) Superpower: Clear skin, so can blend into the environment.

Superpower: Sucks up and digests plastic, turning it into healthy coral reefs.

superpowers. Wouldn’t

28.

OUR INGENIOUS SHARKS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO LIVE IN BOTH SALTY AND FRESHWATER... THIS IS HOW THEY DO IT...

ONE OURWAYFRIENDSADAPT...ISTOPEE.ALOT!

e all know sharks are the RULERS of the seas. From the coldest and deepest parts of the planet, to the sunny waters around coral reefs and mangroves. You can find them almost anywhere. Even...

While you’re unlikely to find a White Shark in your DUCK POND, around 5% of shark and ray species can be found in the waters of some LAKES and RIVERS Most can only tolerate freshwater for a short time. But there are exceptions. Like the BULL SHARK. Who can live for years in either environment. Although, many wouldn’t consider them a ‘true’ freshwater shark, as it’s unlikely they reproduce in freshwater. Currently the only known shark to do this is the GANGES RIVER SHARK. Having adapted so well to freshwater they’ve set up permanent home here. Other species of river shark spend a lot of time in riversthus their name - but will also venture into estuaries. They’re a very SECRETIVE bunch though, so there could be more like the Ganges River Shark waiting to be discovered.Butit’sthe freshwater RAYS that have truly mastered the freshwater environment. In fact, this group of rays have adapted so well that they’re now unable to return to the SEA When you think about it this is all rather amazing, as the water CHEMISTRY of fresh and salt water is so very different. Being adapted to one makes it unlikely you can survive the other.

FEELINGFRESHW

FRESHWATER!

them retain water. But this is a big problem in freshwater. Their porous skin rapidly absorbs water through the process of osmosis. Being so salty, the shark’s body would SWELL to the point of BURSTING! Luckily, our clever friends have several adaptations to help with this. One of which is to PEE. A lot! Enabling them to quickly remove salt from their body. Their much simpler kidney structure can expel urea 20X faster than marine sharks. Now that’s impressive!

sharktrust.org/pups-zone

But our INGENIOUS SHARKS have found a way! One of the biggest problems to overcome is the difference in salt concentration. Marine sharks have a high level of SALTS in their body, which is equal to the water surrounding them. Perfect for being in saltwater, as it helps

ANGEL WHITEFINWEDGEFISHESTOPESTRIPEDSLEEPERSCALLOPEDSAWFISHESPONDICHERRYPELAGICOCEANICGREATGIANTGANGESFRESHWATERFLAPPERDAGGERNOSECOMMONBLUEBIGEYESHARKSTHRESHERSKATETHRESHERSKATESTINGRAYSGUITARFISHESHAMMERHEADWHITETIPTHRESHERHAMMERHEADRAYSSMOOTHHOUNDSWELLSHARK

Hidden in the wordsearch below are 20 of the most endangered sharks, skates, and rays in the world. Can you find them all?

Shark Super Powers

Shark Super Powers has loads of really cool facts! I didn’t know that Swell Sharks glow in the dark or that Sandtiger Sharks can fart! The intro by Steve Backshall is really cool too. The book tells you where in the world each shark lives and the facts are presented in a fun way that makes it great to read – they’re fast facts that are easy to remember. My favourite shark in the book is the Shortfin Mako because its power is super speed!

31. sharktrust.org/pups-zone REVIEWBOOK

WORDSEARCH

BY ALFIE GORDON, AGE 9

22 SPECIES

SAWFISHES

5. WEDGEFISHES

FRESHWATER STINGRAYS

SHARKSANDRAYS

4. SLEEPER RAYS

28 SPECIES

TheseSPECIESlarge shark-like rays wield an impressive saw-like blade at the end of their snout. Studded with sharp pointy teeth, they use these like a club to stun their prey.

Many of these species live in the rivers of South America. They have long slender tails and a venomous stinging spine, which they use to defend themselves.

THRESHER SHARKS

1. ANGEL SHARKS

11 TheseSPECIESoval or pear-shaped rays are often found buried in soft mud or sand. They pack a powerful punch when threatened - swiftly dealing with attackers by delivering a strong electric shock.

The IUCN Red List holds the key. This is a treasure trove of information about animals all around the world. It gathers together what we know about every shark species. Such as where and how they live, and what threats they face. Then gives them a “status” based on how threatened they are. Without this valuable information we wouldn’t know what species are in the biggest trouble. Or how to go about protecting them. Science is key. We’ve still got so much to discover about sharks. Further research is vital to their conservation. But, based on what we do know, here’s 7 of the most threatened sharks and rays…

Masters of camouflage, these large flat sharks will lie patiently in wait... With an unusually flexible ‘neck’ and powerful trap-like jaws they’ll snap up any unsuspecting prey that ventures too close.

Generally found in deep open-water. These sharks are curious, bold, and opportunistic. In the Bahamas, they have a reputation for stealing fish off the lines of fishermen.

TOP 7 MOST THREATENED

Sharks are one of the most threatened groups of animals on our planet. But some species are more endangered than others. So, which need our help the most?

10 SPECIES & GIANT GUITARFISHES

3 TheSPECIEStailof a thresher shark can be up to 3m long! When hunting they’ll herd small fish together, then stun them using their tail like a whip.

6 SPECIES

30.sharktrust.org/pups-zone

OCEANIC WHITETIP

Collectively named the Rhino Rays, after their pointy snouts. Mostly found in tropical shallow waters by the coast.

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