5 Species of Sawfish Now Protected Under the ESA

Effective January 12, 2015, the narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata), largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis), green sawfish (Pristis zijsron), and the non-U.S. distinct population segement of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) will be designated as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.

More Protection Comes for Sharks, Rays, and Sawfish (and Other Migratory Species)

The 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention of the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), administered by the United Nations Environment Programme, concluded on November 9, 2014, in Quito Ecuador, after six days of negotiations.

Drone Captures Whale Sharks and Manta Rays Feeding

Swimming with whale sharks and mantas - as seen from above from Tom Gruber on Vimeo.

Bangladesh Creates SoNG MPA

On October 27th, 2014, the "Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area" (SoNG MPA) was signed into law by the Government of Bangladesh's Ministry of Environment and Forest. This means that fishing and other unauthorized commercial offshore activities are now restricted in the SoNG MPA.

5 Shark Attacks in Egypt (2010) Suggest Cognitive and Human Mediated Drivers

Shark attacks are most often random occurrences, distributed sporadically over time and locations. There are occasional exceptions, however, with multiple shark attacks occurring in the same location over non-distinct periods of time. Experimental evidence on shark cognition has shown that sharks can learn and remember specific locations and images that lead to food.

New Shark Repellent for Pelagic Longline Fisheries

Shark Defense Technologies is developing a new shark repellent, SuperPolyShark, to be used in pelagic longline fisheries.

Call for Public Comment on Skate Management in Alaska's EEZ

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted and Amendment (104) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). Amendment 104, if approved, would designate six areas of skate egg concentrations, or skate nurseries, as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) in the BSAI.