Shark Focus - Issue 66 by The Shark Trust

DEEPESTTHEBLUE SHOOTSGREEN OF HOPE SLEEP! NATURE’S SOFT NURSE (SHARK) OCEANIC SHARKS SHARK LIFE ON THE HIGH-SEAS ISSUE 66 SUMMER 2021 GOING FAST STORY OF THE MAKO

DESIGN: Hazel crossfireagency.comGraham I hope that you’re all safe and well and getting back to some semblance of normality. It’s been a very difficult 12 months for everyone, and our membership remains very important to us. You’ve all been amazing and despite the tumultuous year you’ve continued to support us, allowing us to deliver our conservation actions. And for this, we’re so grateful. Thank youDuringall. lockdown, we’ve taken the opportunity to update our data management. Our new system means we’ve much better access to information that helps us serve you better. This process has highlighted, amongst other things, that many of you don’t have a Gift Aid mandate set up. This is so important as it means the government support your payment by 25p for every £1 you give during the year. So, if you’re a UK taxpayer and fit the HMRC eligibility criteria, please follow the link or scan the QR code to ensure you’re registered. Thank you for taking the time to do this it really does help us. Do remember to keep us updated on any changes of address so you don’t miss out on your Shark Focus magazines and if you have any questions at all on any subject, please email me fromWeglenys@sharktrust.org.atlovetohearyou.

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Kate

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WELCOME to our latest issue – Shark Focus 66. We’re heading off to the big blue this issue. Checking out some of the most charismatic and best-known oceanic sharks (and rays). The conservation case for these species is particularly urgent, due to the pressure placed on them by destructive high-seas fisheries. This has become an absolutely key area of our work, currently focusing on the Shortfin Mako in the North Atlantic. find an update on Ali and the team’s progress with the No Limits? campaign in her Shark Talk editorial on p.18. And for the Pups, well we thought it’d be good to take a closer look at the ever-popular eggcases. We venture across the high-seas to explore what can be found washed up on beaches the world over. Don’t let the young ones keep it all for themselves, adults too can flip the magazine and dig into the Pup Zone. Hope you enjoy this issue. If you love it don’t forget to pass it onto a friend when you’re done. Spread the word about sharks. 66 Holmes, Humble, David OBE, OBE, and Valerie Taylor.

ADDRESS:TRUSTSHARK 4 Creykes Court, The Millfields, Plymouth, PL1 3JB, UK PHONE: +44 (0)1752 672008 EMAIL: focus@sharktrust.org WEBSITE: www.sharktrust.org TRUSTEES: Peirce.MartinCharlesSarahCovey,Ensell-Bowen,JayneRogerDanFairweather,FowlerOBE,Hood,DeanandRichard 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

HOUSEKEEPING DEEPESTTHEBLUE SHOOTSGREEN OF HOPE SLEEP! NATURE’S SOFT NURSE (SHARK) OCEANIC SHARKS SHARK LIFE ON THE HIGH-SEAS GOING FAST STORY OF THE MAKO GLENYS HEAFIELD Company Secretary Head of Finance & Administration COVER: Thresher shark by John Van Lent. 2.

0. sharktrust.org XXXXXXXX©

WELCOMEWELCOMEsummer2021 ISSUE

Gordon Ramsay

© Shark Trust 2021 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.

Simon Rogerson, MichaelaStafford-Deitsch,JeremyStrachan

Jason

3.sharktrust.org FEATURES –08 SHARK LIFE On the High-Seas 10 LIFTING THE LID Oceanic Sharks 11 GREEN SHOOTS OF HOPE 12 THE COLD HARD FACTS 14 GOING FAST Story of the Mako REGULARS –04 YOUR VIEWS 0 6 GLOBAL SHARK NEWS 18 SHARK TALK Ali Hood 19 SHARK TALK Paul Cox 22 . FUNDRAISING 24 CREATURE FEATURE Porbeagle 28 . PUP’S CLUB CONTENTS 10 . 12 . 26 . DAY thein LIFE the cold hard FACTS LANDMARK report 08 . the OCEANIC SHARKS issue 15 5 STEPS TO SUSTAINABILITY 16 . OCEANIC WHITETIP POSTER 20 GUITARFISH NEW Project 25 SLEEP! Nature’s Soft Nurse (Shark), Tom Hird 26 . SHARK CAREERS A Day in the Life globalNEWS PUP’S CLUB weird & wonderful world of shark eggs 28 . 06 .

STAR YOURLETTERVIEWS Send your

‘THE NATURE OF OUR VILLAGE’ PROJECT a group of citizen scientists living in and around the village of Penparcau, near Aberystwyth in West Wales. The Winter of 2019-20 was our fifth season of carrying out surveys for the Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt. We were pleased to be able to make an enormous number of records through systematic searches. We collected a total of 5,031 eggcases over 5 years and can now show that Cardigan Bay is likely to be a nursery ground for Nursehounds. We keep our survey effort the same each year, running 11 searches over the season. Below is a table showing the number of eggcases found over successive survey seasons on Tanybwlch: As well as recording eggcases, we also note any dead adults we find washed up and submit them to the Shark Trust Sightings Database. This year we reported 13 adults: 11 Nursehound and 2 Smallspotted Catshark.” - CHLOE GRIFFITHS Shark Trust: Big thanks to Chloe and her team of volunteers for taking part in this ongoing project. This data will go a long way to helping us better understand egglaying sharks and skates in this area. questions, comments and photos to focus@sharktrust.org may appear in next issue.

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and you

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YOUR views Species: Winter 2015-16 Winter 2016-17 Winter 2017-18 Winter 2018-19 Winter 2019-20 Nursehound 831 683 730 554 1189 Smallspotted Catshark 58 63 99 29 91 Spotted Ray 60 61 119 58 153 Small-eyed Ray 20 24 48 17 57 Thornback Ray 10 14 24 10 25 Blonde Ray 0 1 1 0 0 Cuckoo Ray 0 1 0 1 1 Total eggcases 979 847 1021 669 1515

After much deliberation, we selected 10 finalists for our Facebook and Instagram page. From here our followers selected the winner by voting for their favourite.Congratulations went to... Gerard Bradley for the epic White Shark drawing (left). Gerard, we hope you’re enjoying your Shark Trust membership and welcome to our shark community! We’d also like to give a shout out to runners up: Julie Lyle and Chloe Winn for their incredible entries.

White Shark by Julie Lyle | Watercolour

“My inspiration is wanting to enjoy and experience sharks in their environment. I’ve snorkeled with them and been diving with them... I still want to do more to protect them, educate others and hope others will see their beauty, majesty and essential part of our world.” Whale Shark by Chloe Winn | Pencil

5. ANOTHER AMAZING YEAR FOR SHARKS… THANKS TO YOU! Despite the challenges of 2020, we were busier than ever. And, thanks to your support, we secured some fantastic wins for sharks. Check out our latest infographic for the highlights at www.sharktrust.org/our-work. Highlights34,9042020 EGGCASES RECORDED IN 2020 292,995 IN TOTAL) THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED US IN 2020. WANT TO KNOW MORE? SHARKTRUST.ORG DESPITE BEENCHALLENGESTHEWE’VE BUSIER THAN EVER New Sub-Regional Action Plans for angel sharks Development of new guitarfishes collaboration ST adopts the Basking Shark Watch database Flapper WorkingSkateGroup PROTECTIONSPECIES NAFO: ATTACHEDGREENLANDPROHIBITIONINTERNATIONALENFORCINGONSHARK ICCAT ADOPTS FIRST BLUE SHARK CATCH LIMIT: MAKING TIME FOR MAKOS, BLUE SHARKS, PORBEAGLE & FINS GFCM: CHAMPIONING & EXPANDING SPECIES LISTINGS & ENFORCING FINS NATURALLY NEWS: TUNISIA PROMOTES PROHIBITED STATUS FOR 21 SPECIES OF ELASMOBRANCH NEWS: UK STEPS UP AND SUPPORTS PROHIBITION FOR SHORTFIN MAKO; ICCAT IMPLEMENTS FIRST BLUE SHARK TAC GLOBAL ACTION: INFLUENCING INTERNATIONAL FISHERIESOUR SUPPORTERS 1,500 MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD 3,000 PEOPLE MONTHLYRECEIVINGE-NEWS 34,000 TWITTER 38,000 FACEBOOK 5,000 INSTAGRAM CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH SHARKS ANGEL SHARK DAY Delivered on behalf of the Angel SharkNetworkConservation NO LIMITS CAMPAIGN2020 MAKO2020 in partnership with European aquariums SHARK AND AWARENESSRAYDAY With our partners in the Aquarium & Zoo Association Positively influencing EU CITES implementation for mako Multiple briefings/Ministerial meetings regarding shark fin imports Monitoring squalene use in Covid vaccines RESPONSIBLETRADE OUR WEBSITE Welcoming more visitors than ever... MARCH 16 still working!Gone home but MAKING PROGRESS Shark Trust was engaged in/delivered: We to collaborate! ANGLING: OFPRODUCEDCONDUCT CITIZEN SCIENCE UPDATE 55 ENTANGLEMENT 112 SIGHTINGS IN 2020 Eggcase data shared in support of MPAs & management measures As well as webinars, online talks, presentations and meetings, we reached out via: First EU Blue Shark catch limit Launch of Clean Catch UK Steering Group New UK commitmentGovernmenttosharks MANAGEMENTFISHERIES 2nd edition of Sharks, Skates and Rays of the British Isles Falkland Islands Skate ID guides Fisheries Advisories/Handling Guides in 9 languages New ID guides for Norway & Ireland Published and delivered to industry: SHARK ART COMPETITION

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“I made this piece in celebration of local Maldivian culture and the Maldives’ iconic national animal the Whale Shark. Within the silhouette of this gentle giant, you can see small drawings depicting various marine creatures and local Maldivian visuals, such as a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat, a woman preparing ground coconut for a meal and a tuna fisherman. Drawn in the centre is the local island of Dhigurah, which is home to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, as well as the locals who depend on Whale Shark ecotourism.”

Thank you to our talented artists, who took part in our February competition on social media. We were so impressed by the quality of entries. And it was such a pleasure looking at all your amazing work!

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HOODCHARLES© 6. sharktrust.org/news

JANUARY

BRITISH ISLES // It’s a Family Affair

DECEMBER

JANUARY GLOBAL // Oceanic Sharks and Rays Face Unprecedented Extinction Risk from Overfishing Alarming news concerning oceanic sharks and rays. Scientists from the Global Shark Trends Project (GSTP) revealed their numbers globally have declined by 71% over the past 50 years. The main cause... a direct result of destructive fishing practices. This ground-breaking study reinforces the need for urgent science-based management for sharks and rays found in the high-seas. As well as international collaboration for these wide-ranging species. Find out more on p.10.

GLOBAL // What Makes a Mako Shark?

NEWSGLOBAL

Scientists studying the gene flow and population structure of migrating Basking Sharks in the Northeast Atlantic have made a startling revelation. Like many holidaymakers, they too make annual trips with extended family! Visiting familiar locations that serve their favourite fare - zooplankton. These findings will help scientists to determine the genetic structure of groups and feed into the conservation management of this Endangered shark.

Basking Shark filters plankton from the water

Underside of a Pygmy shark in the world. them hide from predators blend into the lighter

Scientists have long suspected that cancer in sharks is low. But data to prove this has been limited, up until recently. A new genetic study of Shortfin Mako in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans has made an exciting discovery. Within the liver, they found many genes linked to tumour suppression. In fact, 9/10 of the most prevalent genes tested accounted for this. These new findings could help direct cancer research. And are vital to understanding more about this Endangered species and its populations. Still heavily fished in the Atlantic, Mako Sharks remain a key focal species in our No Limits? campaign.

GLOBAL news

SCOTLAND // MPA Created off Scotland Following Discovery of a Flapper Skate Egglaying Site

APRIL GLOBAL // World’s Largest Marine Wildlife Monitoring Network

TheSharkTrust SharkTrustUK TheSharkTrust BARDSLEY.PETERBROWN;ROBERTSONNICKPL;PERRINE/NATUREDOUG© 7.

IncludingspeciesdocumentedNewoffdeepwaterstudyingsharkstheeastcoastofZealandhave3morethatglow!what’snow the largest known luminous vertebrate, the Kitefin Shark, which grows to nearly 6ft. These sharks produce light from special organs located on their bellies and other parts of their body. Helping to camouflage them from predators below. And possibly allowing them to communicate with other sharks. Further research is needed to better understand these fascinating species of the deep. Picture Caption

MARCH

NEW ZEALAND // Luminous ResearchersSharks:Identify 3 More Deep-Sea Sharks that Glow Scientists

The world’s largest network of marine wildlife monitoring systems is being established by the UK. A network of underwater cameras will monitor more than 4 million square kilometres of ocean in 10 Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands and Ascension. The project aims to collect information from parts of the ocean that have previously been challenging to study. Stay tuned to see which sharks and rays are captured on camera!

The exciting discovery of a Flapper Skate egglaying site in the Inner Sound of Skye in late 2019 has led to the urgent designation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA). The MPA prohibits activities that are potentially damaging to the large eggcases. These contain the developing young of this Critically Endangered species for ~12 months. Further assessments will help establish more permanent management measures.

MARCH

Pygmy Shark, the 2 nd smallest world. Their glowing bellies help predators below, as they lighter waters above.

sharktrust.org8. WILDESTANIMAL/SHUTTERSTOCK©IN THIS ISECTION

f you were a shark, where would you live? Maybe you’d hide under a rock, plumb the depths of the abyss, or even disappear into the sand? Or maybe you’d prefer a life on the open road (in shark terms). Oceanic sharks and rays are that small group that spend most of their time in clear blue water, far away from land, exploring the high-seas. It might seem like an ideal life for an efficient swimmer and predator. But, sadly, in recent years the high-seas hold a particular threat for oceanic sharks. Destructive, large-scale industrial fisheries employing longlines and huge seinenets. Out of sight, these high-seas fisheries have multiplied and intensified. And the impact on marine life is increasingly becoming clear. This is particularly true for sharks and rays. A new report in the respected scientific journal Nature emerged at the start of this year, giving us a whole new set of grim statistics for the state of oceanic shark and ray populations. So, we decided to take a closer look. At the animals, at the science and, vitally, at what can be done to secure a better future for this vulnerable group of sharks and rays.

10 . Lifting the Lid on Oceanic Sharks 11 . Green Shoots of Hope 12 . The Cold FactsHard

9. LIFESHARKONTHEHIGH-SEAS 14 . Going Fast Story of the Mako 15 . 5 Steps Sustainabilityto 16 . OceanicPoster:Whitetip sharktrust.org

Paul Cox, Managing Director, reviews landmark report on oceanic sharks...

Lifting the Lid on OCEANICSHARKS

Imminent for Sharks and Rays” surmised one report. “Will Sharks Survive?” asked another. And the headline findings from the report suggests they weren’t over-egging the response. They found that globally the number of oceanic sharks was down 71% in 50 years. And 75% of species are threatened with extinction under IUCN Red ListIt’scriteria.atough read. Yet, in some ways, it feels like just another piece of environmental bad news. We know things are bad for sharks. Now, we have a new set of grim statistics.

To explore the state of oceanic shark and ray species, the GSTP team engaged more than a dozen additional experts from around the world. From literature reviews and expert workshops, the team dug into a mountain of data to create a picture of the past 50 years

KOTOUC/SHUTTERSTOCKTOMAS

But this report is different. Because of the clarity with which it identifies the culprit. And this clarity is refreshing. There’s no fencesitting, no complex multiple threats. Three separate lines of evidence, all pointing to the same cause. Destructive Fisheries. We’ve known this for decades. But here it is in black and white, with quantifiable and undisputable data to back it up. The stats can’t be ignored!

his story begins with the formation of the Global Shark Trends Project (GSTP). A collaboration of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, Simon Fraser University, James Cook University, and the Georgia Aquarium. With support from the Shark Conservation Fund, the project took up the challenge of updating the current extinction risk for all sharks, rays, and chimaeras. No mean feat!

A CLEAR CAUSE

sharktrust.org10.

on the high-seas. The results of this in-depth research landed in January this year. And the paper rightly attracted a flurry of media“Extinctionattention.Seems

To quote from the paper: “Although there are numerous pressures acting on sharks, every Red List assessment for the 31 oceanic sharks concluded that the major threat was ‘biological resource use’ and, more specifically, ‘fishing and harvesting aquatic resources.”

THERE IS HOPE TO BE FOUND IN A FEW SHARKSUCCESSCONSERVATIONSTORIES sharktrust.org

GREEN SHOOTS OF HOPE

If my car was broken and I took it to 3 garages, I’d rather they all pointed to the exact same problem. It’d be more worrying if they all said something different. Or scratched their heads and said, “it’s complicated…”.

11.

It’s not too late for these sharks. But we need to hold policy-makers to account. And ensure that fisheries across the world are properly managed for the common good. We must put science at the heart of shark conservation. For more on this study search Nature & Pacoureau.

And there’s hope hidden in this report. Even if it doesn’t announce its presence as strongly as the dire statistics of decline. For a start, and this is important, this is not a report on all sharks and rays. It applies to 31 species that are under particular pressure due to the nature and intensity of high-seas fishing. That’s not to downplay it. But it’s an importantSecondly,distinction.thereare solutions. And relatively easy ones at that. To quote the authors who say it better than I can “It is possible to reverse shark population declines, even for slow-growing species, if precautionary, science-based management is implemented throughout the range of the species, before depletion reaches a point of no Isreturn.”thisfalse hope? No. Because, thirdly, the report offers concrete examples of species that have started to recover where fishing restrictions have been put in place. Sonja Fordham, one of the report’s authors, puts it “Ourbest:analysis is generally grim, but there is hope to be found in a few shark conservation success stories. We document rebuilding for several Northwest Atlantic species, including Great White Sharks and Hammerheads, achieved through science-based fishing limits. Relatively simple safeguards can help to save sharks and rays, but time is running out. We urgently need conservation action across the globe to prevent myriad negative consequences and secure a brighter future for these extraordinary, irreplaceable animals.”

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XXXXXXXX© 12. sharktrust.org WHAT the PAPERS

SMOOTH HAMMERHEAD

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FISHING

INCREASING

x 2 BOGNER/SHUTTERSTOCK.MICHAELMORRIS;JILLIAN© Key facts highlighted in the landmark research

IMPACT OF FISHERIES PRESSURE

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Catch rate 3x more oceanic sharks are being caught. As numbers have declined, the catch relative to the population size has increased by 18x Fishing pressure FISHERIES SUSTAINABLE?

100%0%

Clearly, better management and oversight of high seas ﬁsheries is needed to turn a corner. 1970 2018 21%75%

Fishing has increased globally. Asia is gradually catching up with Europe as the largest fishing power. 54% Global fishing effort up 54% (1950 - 2010) Most oceanic sharks are caught using seine (big circular nets) and longlines. Fishing by these methods has doubled in the last 50 years. 18 Pressure on oceanic sharks

MANTAS & DEVIL RAYS Oceanic rays are the worst affected group: Thought to have been around for 20-25 million years. The only vertebrate to have 3 working pairs of limbs. Long pregnancy producing 1 or 2 pups every couple of years.

The only oceanic species found to have increased in population size: High reproductive rate: 20-50 pups per year. Often mistaken for scalloped hammerhead in fisheries. Found in cooler water than other hammerheads.

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x 3 ARE

Analysis of ﬁsheries data shows a decline in the proportion of oceanic sharks that could be considered as sustainably ﬁshed:

XXXXXXXX© 13.sharktrust.org PAPERS SAYPORBEAGLE An oceanic species showing signs of population rebuilding since 2000: • Have a third eyelid (nicitating membrane) like a cat which protects their eyes. • They’ve been recorded up to 3.5m long – the length of two average European men end to end. • Prized by sport fishermen. DECLINE IN NUMBERS 18 oceanic sharks and rays were assessed using the “Living Planet Index" EXTINCTION RISK All 31 oceanic species were included in an analysis of extinction risk. 9 of 31 were classed as threatened in 1970. Today it’s 24. The Basking Shark was the only We now have species inEndangered1970. Critically Endangered 16 or Endangered sharks. 1980 20052018 LC NT VU EN LCLC NT VU VU EN ENNT CR YEAR 31 species Bigeye Thresher Common Thresher Pelagic GiantPelagicShortfinLongfinWhiteThresherSharkMakoMakoPorbeagleStingrayMantaRayReefMantaRayShortfinDevilray 1 2021 3 13 8 6 1970 20 8 1 2 Living Planet Index (LPI) - starting at 1, this shows the change in shark/ray numbers over time. LPI greater than 1 indicates population growth, less than 1 a decline. The lower the number, the more serious the decline. Dusky Shark Oceanic Whitetip Shark Silky Shark Blue Shark Great Hammerhead Scalloped Hammerhead Smooth Hammerhead 1.2 - 1.4 100.20.40.60.81.2-1-0.8-0.6-0.4-0.2 LCCRENVUNT Threatened classes OCEANIC WHITETIP Once present in huge numbers now critically endangered: • The scientific name ‘longimanus’ means ‘long hands’, referring to their long pectoral fins. • Born with black tips but these fade over time turning white. • Once described as ‘Possibly the most abundant large animal on the face of the Earth’. PERRINE/ALAMY.DOUGDANAN;JEAN-LOUIS© Read the full research paper here

Find out more about how you can get involved at sharktrust.org/Rally4Mako

Change is possible. It takes time and persistence. But there is hope for Mako, and all oceanic sharks, if we come together with a clear purpose and determination to end damaging industrial fishing practices.

ROBINSON/ALAMYRICHARD©

The science is clear-cut, the advice straightforward. Our task is to keep making a strong and unswerving case. To use whatever levers are available to shift the thinking of policy-makers and force the industry to stop fishing Mako. And that’s what we’re doing. Working with Shark League partners we’ve coordinated the Rally4Mako campaign across Europe and US and we’re gearing up for another key policy meeting in November.

Sadly, key decision-makers, particularly in the EU and US, are failing to heed the advice. Instead listening to industry voices and placing economic arguments ahead of the need to protect an endangered species.

O f all the oceanic sharks highlighted in the Nature report, the Shortfin Mako is probably in the most pressing situation. The Mako is one of our bestloved sharks. Sleek, speedy and with one of the shark world’s most impressive set of teeth. In the Atlantic, they range from the tip of South America to Greenland. While they can withstand a bit of cold, they migrate huge distances to stay in warmer waters. Females reach maturity late at 18 years and they reproduce slowly. All told they might have as few as 3 litters of 10-18 pups in a lifetime. They are, quite simply, beautiful but vulnerable sharks. Yet they’re being caught in huge numbers, way exceeding their rate of reproduction. They’re an important secondary species for huge longlining fleets fishing for tuna and swordfish. But to describe them as bycatch is misleading. They’re a valuable shark for both meat and fins. And the fishing industry is remarkably reluctant to stop catching them. The message from scientists, after a full assessment in 2017 was very clear: Stop fishing now if Atlantic Mako are to have a chance of recovering in our lifetime. That’s sobering stuff and warrants immediate action.

14.

...THEY ARE BEING CAUGHT IN HUGE NUMBERS

GOINGFAST

This involvesfishingindustrialmethodsetting lines 1-50 miles long with baited hooks. It’s an incredibly efficient way of catching fish with minimal habitat damage. Large vessels can bait tens of thousands of hooks per day. But it also indiscriminately kills large numbers of other marine animals, aboutunderstandSo,high-seasincludingsharks.it’svitaltomoretheimpacts of longlining, reduce the intensity of highseas fishing, and explore methods to reduce bycatch.

The Story of the Mako

WHAT IS LONGLINING?

SET CATCH LIMITS

How do we stop large scale destructive fishing practices to safeguard healthy and populations?secure FINNING

With catch limits in place, constant monitoring and review should ensure compliance, reduce bycatch and challenge illegal fishing.

SUSTAINABILITYSTEPS5TO

By making sure sharks are correctly identified and counted, scientists have the best available data to assess damage to populations.

15.

DO THE SCIENCE

When sharks are brought ashore with their fins collect.informationspecies-specificattached,iseasierto

5 PROTECTIONSENFORCE

Setting national and international limits based on scientific advice means that sharks can be given time to recover to a healthy level.

By studying and modelling the health of shark recommendationsscientistspopulations,makeon what level of fishing would ensure future health.

1 END

AID IDENTIFICATION

OCEANIC WHITETIP SCIENTIFIC NAME: longimanusCarcharhinus MAXIMUM SIZE: 4m DIET: Mainly fish and squid. As well as shellfish, stingrays, seabirds, turtles and marine mammals. DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide in tropical and warm temperate oceanic waters. AtlanticEastern(Portugal to western South Africa) & Western Atlantic (Maine to Argentina). HABITAT: Far offshore from the surface to depths of 1200m, but mainly 200m. May visit shallow, coastal waters off oceanic islands. 15-28°C.20°CtemperaturesPrefersabovebutcantolerate STATUS: EndangeredCriticallyWALTER/SHUTTERSTOCKLUKAS©

WHITETIP

sharktrust.org

ROBINSON/ALAMYRICHARD©

And while a number of Parties were responsible for the brackets, it’s the EU that remains the Party desperate to press on with “

THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR, BUT THE PROFITS TO BE MADE FROM RETENTION OF MAKO OUTWEIGH THE CONCERNS OF THE MANY.

TODAY IS #MAKOMONDAY –it’s 12 July 2021. Had I written this last Monday the tone may have been one of eager anticipation, a dared dream of hope that sense would prevail. That science would be respected. Concerns for a highly threatened species would be acted on. And conservation would be put ahead of the profits of a few vessel owners. After all, last December an EU body did follow the science. Reaching the clear conclusion that there could be no sustainable take of mako from the North Atlantic. Especially pertinent given the EU was responsible for 74% of landings from the North Atlantic in 2020. So, whatLasthappened?weeksaw a special meeting of ICCAT* countries with an interest in makos. And we, along with our Shark League colleagues, were of course also there. Mako management is championed by many. There’s a diverse and increasing cacophony of calls for banning take of makos from the North Atlantic. With voices from science, politics, business and the wider public, all urging ICCAT Parties to do the right thing: ban retention with no exceptions.ButwhenParties in these meetings discuss management, the parts yet to be agreed are placed in [square brackets]. And after 3 days of negotiations last week, almost the entire mako proposal remains [yet to be agreed]… Not saying there’s no progress. But we’re deeply concerned with the rate of progress and the absence of agreement on the centraland scientifically advised - issue of a ban. What should be in no doubt is the state of the mako population. And that, for every further delay, a population already decades from recovery slides further from reach.

18.

ALI HOOD DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION mako fishing. To continue permitting retention of this exceptionally vulnerable species. Mako has become totemic of shark conservation – the science is clear, but the profits to be made from retention of the species outweigh the concerns of the many. Ahead of the next round of meetings in Autumn, we must make more noise: we must Rally for Makos. Join us at sharkleague.org/rally4makos

”

Sharks of the World: A Complete Guide, by David A. Ebert, Marc Dando & Sarah Fowler. THE shark bible. This classic has been revised and updated. 536 of the world’s shark species; packed with stunning colour illustrations, colour photos and infographics. There’s a great overview of shark biology, ecology and conservation. And a very usable fin identification guide.

19.

AS I WRITE THIS editorial, we’re FINALLY contemplating our return to the office in the coming days. And, we hope, something like a return to normal. Except that, when we do return, one of our team won’t be there.

A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World (2 nd edition) . Always a favourite with our supporters young and old. It’s the only field guide to identify, illustrate, and describe every known shark species. This expanded edition includes beautiful images, details on newly discovered species, and updated text throughout.

”

Lark the Shark, by Natalie & Henry Newman. This little gem, written by a mother and son, is a great positive children’s book about a shark and his mission to clean up the ocean. Beautifully illustrated, it’s an inspiring and fun read which gently introduces young children to some important messages.

PAUL COX

sharktrust.org

SHARK talk

THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BUSIEST I’VE EPERIENCED IN MY 6 YEARS AT THE TRUST.

Hannah, our Marketing Manager, has decided it’s time for a new challenge. Her work has been behind much of the communication that you’ll encounter as members. Not least the website and this magazine. So, she’ll be sorely missed. And I wish her all the best in her new adventure.Asyou’ll see from the rest of the magazine (and you might gather from the slightly late delivery) we’ve certainly not been idle while working at home. The last few months have been some of the busiest I’ve experienced in my 6 years at the Trust. There’s action on a number of fronts and the team have all been magnificent. One of the casualties of the pandemic from our perspective has been our online shop. Working from home it became impractical to provide the level of service our customers expect. So, for the last 15 months, we’ve limited our shop to selling adoptions and gift memberships only. We’ve been surprised and delighted by the enduring popularity of the adoptions, they remain a top gift for shark fanatics. In normal times, some of our best sellers are the range of shark books that we offer. And we have a few new ones on our shelves ready for the shop re-opening after the summer. So, as a little taster, I’ve done a mini review of three of the best.

MANAGING DIRECTOR Shortfin Mako photographed off the West Coast of Auckland, New Zealand. “

TOGETHERBANDINGTHREAT.TOSAVEGUITARSPROJECTUPDATE:

D id you know giant guitarfishes are the world’s most threatened marine fishes? Knocking sawfish off the top spot and relegating angel sharks to 3rd Giantplace! guitarfishes, wedgefishes and guitarfishes are shark-like rays. All but one of the 16 giant guitarfishes and wedgefishes are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their fins are among the most valuable in the global shark fin trade. Low reproductive rates make them especially vulnerable to fishing pressure. While the coastal fisheries that catch them are poorly monitored, largely unregulated, and increasingly intense. The Critically Endangered Blackchin (Guitarfish cemiculusGlaucostegus ) is native to CommonEndangeredhereAlsoMediterranean.thefoundaretheGuitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos).

Shark conservation in the Mediterranean is complicated for many reasons. There’s been a massive decline in the variety and number of sharks and rays. And it comes as no surprise that destructive fishing is the key threat. Small fishing boats are deeply rooted in the fabric of the Mediterranean. With over 77,000 small boats supplying local markets across the region. Reaching these boats and markets is a key rays.fisheriesischallenge!conservationWhilelittledetailknownaboutthefortheseBothBlackchin

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IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT DESTRUCTIVE FISHING IS THE KEY

Guitarfish and Common Guitarfish are targeted along the North African coast. In Tunisia, artisanal fisheries use gillnets called ‘Kallabia’ to target them. While in Libya they favour longlines as well as nets. Guitarfishes are a high-value ray with the meat consumed locally. Since 2012, 24 sharks and rays, including the 2 guitarfishes, have been protected in the Mediterranean through ”

CONDUCT:CODESHARKBASKINGOF

SWIMMERS, DIVERS & SURFERS: Maintain distance of at least 4m and be wary of the tail Do not touch the sharks Do not swim towards them if they are near you Ideally, swimmers should remain on the surface stay in a group, rather than spreading out around the sharks No more than 4 people in the water within 100m of a shark at any time 4m Guidelines to help water-users reduce the risk of injuring or harassing Basking Sharks.

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TheSharkTrust SharkTrustUK TheSharkTrust

GENERAL ADVICE Do not approach within 100m If you encounter Basking Sharks be aware: DID YOU KNOW? Basking Sharks are legally protected in the UK. It’s illegal to intentionally kill, injure, recklessly disturb or harass Basking Sharks in British waters. Any person committing such an offence could face up to 6 months in prison and a large fine. Observe which direction they’re swimming Then quietly position yourself alongside their anticipated course for a safe and enjoyable view. Wait for them to come to you.

BASKING SHARK CODE OF CONDUCT

REMEMBER! For every shark visible on the surface there are likely to be morebelow.hidden

Fish markets and landing sites are a valuable resource when trying to get a handle on the species caught and traded in a local area. Many sightings of the rarest species have been made on markets. While disappointing to see rare species dead, this may be the only indicator of their presence in local waters. Not only will we have eyes out for guitarfishes, but also for the 3 species of Critically Endangered angel sharks found in the Mediterranean, and other species of interest. Genetic material will also be collected to help a global study of guitarfishes distribution.

HERE IN the UK, Basking Shark season (May-September) is in full swing! So, if you’re out visiting the coast remember to keep a look out for these graceful giants. And, if you’re lucky enough to spot one, remember to record your sightings to our database. This year we’ve also spruced up our Code of Conduct (below). Designed to help reduce the risk of Basking Sharks getting injured or harassed by waterusers. By following these guidelines, individuals can ensure a positive encounter for both themselves and these magnificent animals. Download your copy from our website. Or, adopt a Basking Shark today to receive a printed copy in your pack. regional agreements. But legislation is poorly implemented with many countries yet to adopt and enforce the rules. The Blackchin Guitarfishes were also listed, along with the 15 other giant guitarfishes and wedgefishes, on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 2019. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? With support from the Save Our Seas Foundation and Dashlight Foundation, this summer we’re excited to be launching a Mediterranean Guitarfishes project! With partners in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Israel and Cyprus, we’ll be able to have many eyes on the ground. As a team, we’ll benefit from researchers visiting fish markets and landing sites across the region. And talking with fishers and enforcement officers to increase the profile of guitarfishes and their plight.

KAYAKS & SUP’S: BOAT USERS: them this could make them dive or act Whenunpredictablysharksare sighted, restrict speed to below 6 knots and/or operate under sail When closer than 100m, switch the engine to neutral to avoid injuring sharks Avoid sudden changes in speed Do not allow several vessels to surround the Jet-skisshark(s)should not approach Basking Sharks

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●Avoid pairs or large numbers of sharks following each other closely. This may be courting behaviour and they should not be disturbed. Maintain distance of at least 500m. Never paddle directly several kayaks to surround them – this could make them dive or act unpredictably Remain calm and quiet –avoid sudden movements which will disturb the sharks Stay in group, rather than spreading out around Try not to cross their path so their course without changing direction or speed Never use your paddle or kayak to touch shark

baskingsharks.org sharktrust.org Don’t forget to take pictures of the fins for the Photo-ID Project and record your sighting

Although mostly placid, Basking Sharks can thrashing their tail with Be extremely cautious in areas where Basking breaching.

PORBEAGLE SHARK CREATURE FEATURE “ ”

PERRINE/ALAMYDOUG©

haped like a rugby ball, this hydrodynamic shark is built for endurance. Dark grey-blue in colour with a white belly, they have a pointed snout and large black eyes.

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EXIST - THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND SOUTH PACIFIC bigger, and don’t tend to live as long as those in the south Pacific. During the day Porbeagles tend to spend their time in deeper waters, rising to the surface at night. They’re opportunistic feeders, mostly eating small fish - such as mackerel, whiting and herring - as well as octopus, squid and cuttlefish. Highly inquisitive, Porbeagles have been seen chasing each other, rolling at the surface, and even pushing around floating objects and kelp. Could they be playing? Currently, there are no scientific studies to back this up, but what an interesting study that would be...!

TWO DISTINCT POPULATIONS

Porbeagle’s look a lot like White Sharks, so are often mistaken for them. This has led to many false reports of White Sharks in UK waters. But Porbeagle’s are around half the size. Although still a large shark, the biggest Porbeagle on record is 3.6m. While the largest White Shark is 6m. Found worldwide in cold-temperate waters, Porbeagle’s are strong swimmers. Travelling thousands of miles in search of food and to give birth. One individual, tagged in Irish waters, journeyed over 2,000 miles to Newfoundland in Canada. A known Porbeagle mating ground. Porbeagle’s may live on their own, or in small groups made up of similarsized or same-sex individuals. With males and females coming together - usually in September-November - to mate. Yet in some places, this can take place in January. They reproduce slowly, so are extremely vulnerable to destructive fishing. Females take 12-16 years to reach sexual maturity, males 6-10 years. After 8-9 months, females will give birth to litters of just 1-5 pups. Two distinct populations exist - the north Atlantic and south Pacific. Individuals from these areas don’t seem to mix, resulting in key differences. North Atlantic Porbeagle’s get a lot

Porbeagle’s belong to an elite group of sharks known as mackerel sharks. These include some of the most powerful and agile sharks in the world, such as the White Shark and Shortfin Mako. This group are endothermic, so can keep themselves nice and warm. This makes them more efficient hunters and able to tolerate colder waters.

SLEEP! NATURE’S SOFT NURSE (SHARK) THE blowfish

‘THE BLOWFISH’ HIRD’S SCIENTIFIC BREAKDOWN

IF YOU thoughtthenatisdroppingTHINKoffhardworktimes,spareaforthe sharks and rays. It’s one thing to suffer from insomnia. But another thing entirely to not even have science recognise your napping habits. That’s where we currently stand. We simply don’t know, or rather can’t prove, if sharks sleep. It’s a huge and complex problem to study sleep. Even in humans, who are reasonably good patients, sleep research is slow and subject to a lot of interpretation and mystery. What we do know is the biological effects of sleep... lowering of the heart rate, flushing of the brain with cerebral fluid, and activation of many of the body’s repair mechanisms. We can measure this via hard chemical or physical data. And, with terrestrial animals, we can look at immobility, reduced awareness, and relaxed posture to denote a sleeping state. But all this is incredibly Do sharks sleep? A great question! Especially considering many sharks have to keep moving to ‘breathe’. So, we asked Tom to dig into the latest science to find out...

TOM

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lamna nasus MAXIMUM SIZE: 3.6m DIET: Small fish and

STATUS:

Cruising Lemon Shark

squid. RANGE: Wideranging temperatein waters (except North Pacific). HABITAT: Coastal and oceanic waters from -1–23°C.canbelowtemperaturesdeep.0-1,800mPrefers18°Cbuttolerate

TheVulnerablerobustPorbeagle, one of the only known sharks that may love to play... difficult to measure in sharks. Smaller, bottom-dwelling or sedentary species offer an opportunity for scientific study. So, some research has been done on their resting behaviours, but it’s thin at best. Sleep studies on the larger, continuously swimming sharks simply doesn’t exist. The best evidence we have is from recordings of shark behaviours where their activity stops, or significantly drops. A Bull Shark was captured drifting in an uncontrolled manner for 2 minutes. In which time it slowly sank as it glided along, before firing back up again and continuing on its way. It’s easy to see why this might be considered sleep, albeit the speediest of power naps. But equally the shark may have been just resting. One thing we can be sure of is that sharks and rays must have some form of sleep. Be it a rapid rest or controlled shut down of parts of the brain. Like us, sharks have a pineal gland in their brain. This is the timekeeper of the body, responsible for our sleep cycles. We don’t know exactly how this works in sharks. But, considering their place as evolutionary godfathers, it’d be a stretch to think sleep evolved independently of sharks.

TRANSFIXING A GROUP OF PRIMARY AGE CHILDREN TO THE MAGIC OF NATURE INDESCRIBABLE!IS WHAT DOES A ‘TYPICAL’ WORKING DAY LOOK LIKE? Intense! I start early, checking our menagerie of creatures at our Woodside Environmental Education Centre. I draw breath for a dip into the office, to catch up on emails. Then an adults-in-care half-day session. Before heading for a primary school to deliver a tailored curriculum supporting ‘outdoor learning programme’. Then we deliver an after-school club to conclude the school day! It’s diverse all right and hugely gratifying!

LOWS – WHAT’S THE WORST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? The passing of wonderful souls in care with life reducing conditions. When my adultsin-care clients pass, the very same week, I still go into their care communities to

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HIGHS - WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? I’m living my dream! It’s not a job but a passion. A natural journey that’s come full teach. Following a pause for reflection to the deceased, we lift their colleagues’ spirits, with positive focus to create a vibrant atmosphere during our activity sessions. Out of the worst comes huge personal reward too though. Knowing that during those peoples shortened lives, we’ve made a positive difference. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE THIS circle since childhood. Transfixing a group of primary age children to the magic of nature is indescribable! Seeing their passion for the great out-doors building before your very eyes, breathes an energy that the natural world has a future through our audiences.Witnessing children’s ecological values form, and their realisation that they can do a lot to protect and sustain its future, is priceless. We’ve done our job!

A introductiongreat into the fascinating world of sharks & rays. Connect with the ocean as you learn at home, down the park, or on the beach.

2 GREAT EGGCASE HUNT Explore the exciting world of egg-laying sharks & skates. Where we’ll be heading to the beach for a spot of fieldwork.

NAME: JOHN BROOKSBANK JOB TITLE ORGANISATION:& Founder, The Great Out-tours - a

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN STARTING OUT? Face your demons! The road to success comes with many twists, turns, and bumps. So, embrace all the positives and negatives with equal gusto! They’ll take you to positive places and reward you in ways you could never have imagined!

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You’ll love the experience, gain new career contacts, and will always commend yourself for time well spent. Take it from me; it’ll arm you well! When employing people, I look at the depth and breadth of environmental experience, regardless of whether it’s paid or volunteering. It shows intent, commitment, and desire. Finally, seek out a mentor!

SHARKS & RAYS

Ignite a spirit of curiosity, exploration, and muchaeducationaljigsaws,wordsearches,Bundlesdiscovery!includearts&crafts,videos,familyquizandsomore...

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT ON THIS CAREER PATH? Age has no boundaries to a career inspiring people in the countryside/outdoors! Embrace educating yourself, no matter your age or circumstance. Through academic qualification, you’ll learn skills for task, gain scientific depth in your writing, teaching, and speaking. Try and forget your career pride for high financial return, in the early years of this dream career. Gain work experience in your chosen field and take up as many different volunteering posts, as you can squeeze into your working week!

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SHARKSTHRESHER Discover the super agile, fishherding, thresher sharks. Made up of 3 different species. And, there’s more on the way... Check out the link below.

John & his son enjoying the great outdoors.

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CAREER? It was a journey that began as a child, living in the heart of Sussex, England, with the beautiful South Downs hill range on our doorstep. The Great Out-tours business concept was born out of my childhood wildlife experiences, copious nature treks, South Downs hill scrambles, a pet rabbit and cat! My father’s career in the aviation industry brought many family holidays to far flung isles, where I revelled in snorkelling sorties and developed a love for marine environments. Crucially I had a friendly and wise neighbour; ‘the oracle of all things wild’. A man who helped forge my passion for the countryside, that’s fired like a furnace throughout my life! We all need mentors! Threshers use their tail like a whip to stun prey. stirring up dinner at lightning speed! Beach treasure! Discover shark eggs with the Great Out-tours Great Eggcase Hunt Bundle.

carechildrenguidedfunthesetoFromactivityawithOut-toursTrustalsoCovid-19Witheducationenvironmentalaward-winningmulti-provider.2020camebutitbroughtSharkandTheGreattogether,thelaunchofrangeofsharkbundles.beachcombingcraftchallenges,bundlesofprovidehoursoflearningforandadultsinhomes.

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YOUR AMAZING SHARK ART… We love this mother and son collaboration! Emerson drew these suer-cute sharks, and his mum created this fun pattern by scanning and colouring them up on the computer.

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

EGGCASE HUNTING Congratulations to our youngest eggcase hunter! While out with her dad, Elodie found her first eggcase, belonging to a Smallspotted Catshark, on East Preston Beach in Sussex. Great find Elodie – may this be the first of many!

THEAFUNDRAISERS…INCREDIBLE(AGE9) raised £160 to help support sharks. FIN cycled an incredible 100 miles, raising £560. FAITH (AGE 11) climbed Mount Snowdon, raising £320.00 in support of our Stop Shark Finning Campaign. Also check out p.22 to find out about Hector’s winter bivvy to save sharks.

ELODIE (AGE 8 MONTHS)

“I have been doing some research about sharks and wanted to know how long a nurse shark can hold its breath out of water. I tried Googling it but couldn’t find an answer. Do you know the answer please?”

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EMERSON & MUM

BIG THANKS TO OUR

“This is a Great White Shark jumping out of the water and making a big splash. It is also a Christmas Shark wearing a Christmas hat. What does it eat? The green fish in the picture, and also salmon and dolphins.”

FIN-TASTIC! A

MONTY (AGE 5)

Shark Trust: Great question Liam! Sharks don’t have lungs, so can’t really hold their breath. Instead, they have gills that absorb oxygen in the water. To do this they need a constant flow of water into their mouth and out through their gills, which is why most sharks need to keep swimming. So, how come Nurse Sharks can lie still on the sea floor? Well, they open and close their mouths. This forces water through their gills in much the same way. But we don’t know exactly how long they could survive without this.

NIKA (AGE 5) Monty is incredible at finding shark and ray eggcases. After a stormy tide he and his dad found 97 at Studland Bay in Dorset. And that was in one morning! Nice work Monty and dad!!

A WOW! Gills vs. Lungs

CHRISTMAS SHARK

BY LIAM CLAYDON, AGE 9

28.sharktrust.org/pups-zone SHARKS, SKATES, AND CHICKENS… WORDSEARCH PORT AFRICANZEBRAHAPPYEPAULETTECRESTEDJACKSONHORNEDDIESOFTNOSE SKATE BIGTHORN SKATE BROWN BROWNBANDEDRAY BAMBOO ELEPHANTFISH The following sharks, skate, and chimaera are egg-laying species. Can you find all 20 hidden in the wordsearch below? Created w th TheTeachersCorner net Word Search Maker PORT JACKSON CRESTED HORN EPAULETTE HAPPY EDDIE ZEBRA AFRICAN SOFTNOSE SKATE BIGTHORN SKATE BROWN RAY BROWNBANDED BAMBOO Name: B T H D K P W S P O T T E D R A T F I S H R U H C H A I N C A T S H A R K E X K Z R K R A H S L L E W S N A I L A R T S U A D Y J M J M J P U T H C C E E M L D X A C G N R O H D E T S E R C N J B P Y F X X V K A U N E C K L A C E C A R P E T S H A R K L O N G T A I L E D C A R P E T S H A R K Q Y Y A R N W O R B U V V A Z Y S T E C D R U S T Y C A R P E T S H A R K H R A B T J J W H M J L E T T E L U A P E Q U T A Y X A R B E Z N E T A K S G I B M I E U C Y U G F A I F E T A K S L E D N U O R H X Z P G F N V Y K W G J F H A P P Y E D D I E E T A K S E S O N T F O S N A C I R F A S Q K C L E A R N O S E S K A T E P J K E Y V G Y D M E L E P H A N T F I S H K H C H B R O W N B A N D E D B A M B O O Z W Z C C F P O R T J A C K S O N P K E B Z O H S V B Z Y U H Z I E T A K S E L T T I L O K F E B B X P F E D K D M M F X L D V U J I W G E C E T A K S N R O H T G I B X D W L LONGTAILED CARPETSHARK RUSTY SPOTTEDAUSTRALIANROUNDELLITTLECLEARNOSECHAINBIGNECKLACECARPETSHARKCARPETSHARKSKATECATSHARKSKATESKATESKATESWELLSHARKRATFISH Well, to be precise, not all sharks lay eggs. But some do. And this bunch are very particular about choosing just the right spot to lay them. The perfect place includes: ✔ Little to no predators ✔ Plenty of shelter and hiding places ✔ Lots of food for when their pups hatch They may not stay around to rear their young, but these sharks do their very best to give them the finest start in life… YEP, YOU GOT IT! THEY ALL REPRODUCE BY LAYING EGGS. GROSSSHANE© WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? OFLIFECYCLEASHARK

THE WEIRD & WONDERFUL WORLD OF SHARK EGGS

CRESTED HORNSHARK: EGGCASE: Being spiral-shaped, these eggcases are perfect for wedging between rocks. This stops them getting washed away by ocean currents.

As a Pup’s Club member, we’re sure you’re well up on your eggcases. But here are 5 exotic shark eggcases you may not be so familiar with...

AUSTRALIAN SWELLSHARK: EGGCASE: Beautiful & flamboyant, these orangeyellow eggcases come with all the frills! SIZE: 9.5-13cm HATCHES: 12 months FOUND: Australia SHARK FACT: To scare away predators, swellsharks will gulp down water to puff up their stomachs. Making them look big & intimidating.

SIZE: 11cm HATCHES: 5-9 months

FOUND: Australia SHARK FACT: Crested Hornsharks are endemic to Australia, so you’ll only find them here.

CHIMAERA EGGS: Chimaera, aka ghost sharks, are closely related to sharks & skates. All 50 known species reproduce by laying eggs. And these are perhaps the most elaborate and bizarre of all! Just look at this incredible eggcase, which belongs to the deep-sea Elephantfish!!

PORT EGGCASE:JACKSON: Port Jacksons also lay spiral eggcases,but these don’t have curly tendrils atthe end. SIZE: 15cm HATCHES: 10-11 months FOUND: Australia SHARK FACT: Both the Crested Hornshark & Port Jackson are bullheadsharks. A group known for having largeheads & thick ridges over their eyes.

ZEBRA EGGCASE:SHARK: These little parcels of joy come in shades of green, brown, and purple.

SIZE: 17cm HATCHES: 4-6 months FOUND: Indo-Pacific SHARK FACT: Most sharks need to keep moving to ‘breathe’. But not Zebra Sharks. When resting, they’ll suck in water through their mouth & squeeze it over their gills.

SKATE

WHO’S WHO? 1 B C D E 2 3 4 5 PLMUSTARD/NATUREALEXBAUMGARTEN;JOEKHUNRACH/SHUTTERSTOCK;TEERASAKPL;MURCH/NATUREANDY© LANZERSDORFER/SHUTTERSTOCK.PETERPL;OCEANWIDE/NATUREBELLGARYTURNBULL/FLICKR;JOHN ANSWERS:1B2E3D4A5C ANSWERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE ZEBRA SHARKPORT JACKSONHORNSHARKCRESTEDSWELLSHARKAUSTRALIAN

SIZE: 3.5–5cm HATCHES: 3 months FOUND: South Africa SHARK FACT: Happy Eddie are known for being rathershy. When threatened, they’ll curl upwith their tail over their eyes, to protectthemselves.

HAPPY EDDIE: EGGCASE: Looking splendid in stripes, this winsthe prize for snazziest pattern.

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EGGCASE: Most eggcases are home to just oneembryo. But, the Big Skate eggcasecan get a bit crowded with up to 7!SIZE: 21-28cm HATCHES: 6-20 monthsFOUND: North Pacific OceanSHARK FACT: Big Skate are the largest skate in NorthAmerican waters. They can grow to2.4m & live up to 26 years. EGGS EGGCASE WITH THE SHARK THAT LAID THEM...

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sharktrust.org/pups-zone C P ! up’s lub achievements!!AllAMAZINGYOU’REYOURnewsand PUZZLES & GAMES THE WEIRD & WONDERFUL WORLD OF SHARK EGGS BABYSHARKS... ©ADIBARESH