Good news for sharks

Perhaps this will give people more reason to embrace sharks. Who know what other inventions they may give rise to, or what mysteries they may unlock?

Offshore Drilling

photo credit: foxnews

Given recent events in the Gulf of Mexico (read a CNN report here), it is frightening to think about oil rigs off the coast of North and South Carolina. I personally do not think the potential for oil is worth the risk of oil spills. If you care to contact your senator in opposition, please visit the Oceana.org website here.

Earth Day

I stumbled upon this image on the NASA website. What struck me was not the number of lit areas, but the vastness of the dark areas -- ocean. So, I did something for the ocean today. I planted two trees...

Invasive Lionfish Attacks Reefs and Fish as Scientists Scramble - ScienceInsider

Invasive Lionfish Attacks Reefs and Fish as Scientists Scramble - ScienceInsider

Washington State to ban copper from car brake pads

I had no idea copper was so toxic to marine life... This is another small step in the right direction. Click here to read article

Hudson River Project

I was in NYC to visit friends and family, and my sister referred me to the Hudson River Project. Unfortunately, I was unable to visit the facility, but found their web site interesting. It is great to know that the water quality in the Hudson is improving, and that there are 49 documented fish species in the lower reaches. That's a start!
Click here to visit The River Project.

Frillfin shark video

This is cool...

Newly Discovered Red Grouper Behavior

Fascinating. Apparently, Red grouper contruct cone-like holes in sandy bottoms, exposing rocks and rubble. According to the scientists: "By building complex, three-dimensional structures that expose the hard rock beneath the sand...red grouper create and environment in which seaweed, coral and sponges can thrive. These communities then attract everything..." Click here to read article.

NOAA's Go Blue Campaign

This is a great page with information and tips on "Going Blue" - the oceanic equivalent of "Going Green."
Make "BLUE" the new "GREEN"!

Anderson Cooper reports on Great whites in South Africa

WARNING! THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC FOOTAGE OF A LIVE SHARK BEING FINNED. It made me cry. I cannot watch shark finning - it took me by surprise and I had to immediately fast-forward.
My thoughts on this CBS piece? It's CBS, not PBS. Mike Rutzen, from what we are told, is big-hearted and well-meaning; but he is not a scientist - that I know of. This is dangerous stuff. Also, based on this reporting, his objectives are in the right place. And, if his business helps people overcome their fears, and it may be a just cause.
Anderson is right and wrong about sharks - they are intellegent, but I do not think we will never understand the true complexity of their intellegence. We do not, and will never, speak thier language.
I believe in general, we ought to admire them from afar. Do not feed. Do not tempt. Catch and release.
I will share a story about a shark tooth and my finger in a later post...


Watch CBS News Videos Online

New White shark Depth Record

Imagine the pressure at 1200 meters! Click here to see article...

UK creates world's largest marine reserve - KansasCity.com

UK creates world's largest marine reserve - KansasCity.com

Warmer water linked to Salmon decline

More proof that fishes are very temperature sensitive, and that changes in their biology, or changes in environment, can be devastating.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/warm-water-partly-cause-of-salmon-decline-study-finds/article1516741/