Latest news with #marineanimals
BBC News
2 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Research to identify risk hotspots for Channel Island dolphins
Research to identify risks and threat hotspots for marine animals around the Channel Islands has been carried out by the University of students Becky Dudley and Beth Harvey said the study would look at human impacts and potential threats to marine populations including Harvey said disturbance from a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to a pod of bottlenose dolphins was picked up by a hydrophone as part of the said: "[The boat] came through a group of bottlenose dolphins not realising the potential impact that they can have. There are guidelines if you do encounter bottlenose dolphins out there on boats." 'Best protect them' She added: "It's really important to stay at least 100m away from them because it's really important that those bottlenose dolphins can communicate with each other."The university said the whole south coast of England and Gulf of Saint Malo were part of an important marine mammal area (IMMA).Ms Dudley said her research involved looking at the ways bottlenose dolphin populations in coastal areas could be "better managed.""I think they can tell us so much about the health of our oceans," she said. She added: "Things that are affecting them, will affect the whole of the marine eco-system."They can really be used as a way to figure out how we as humans are affecting them and how we can best protect them."The students said identification of the Channel Islands as an IMMA gave "global recognition of how important these areas are to cetaceans and that recognition may well lead to more management measures."Ms Dudley added she hoped it would show "people what an amazing place the Channel Islands" was for marine mammals.
Arab News
10-07-2025
- Science
- Arab News
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Wild Orcas'
Author: Hanne Strager and Catherine Denardo Of the world's iconic predatory species, orcas are among the most fearsome. Their awesome physical power combined with their cooperative hunting skills and ability to problem-solve make them uniquely efficient killers. Yet orcas also celebrate births, grieve losses, and maintain lifelong family bonds. This stunningly illustrated book draws on five decades of field research and cutting-edge science to provide an incomparable look at the biology, natural history, culture, and conservation of these awe-inspiring marine animals.
Forbes
02-07-2025
- General
- Forbes
CITES Proposals Aim To Stop Shark Extinction Spiral
A view of oceanic whitetip reef shark, who faces danger of extinction due to climate change and ... More human pollution. Over 70 species of sharks and rays may soon receive their strongest lifeline yet. One June 30, 2025, governments around the world formally proposed urgent protections under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for some of the most threatened marine animals on the planet, including whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, manta rays and wedgefish. These CITES proposals reflect what scientists have warned for years: for certain sharks and rays, sustainable trade simply isn't possible due to their slow reproduction, long lifespans and vulnerability to overfishing. The only viable path forward is to stop international commercial trade entirely and shift focus to protecting these species in the wild, where they offer far more value to local economies alive than they do as just merely a sum of their parts (i.e. fins, gills or meat). The proposed listings, which will be debated at CITES' 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Uzbekistan this upcoming November, recommend moving species like the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), manta and devil rays, and oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) to Appendix I. This category provides the highest level of protection under international law, effectively banning commercial international trade. Other species, like the Critically Endangered wedgefish and guitarfish rays, would receive temporary commercial bans through a 'zero quota' listing, an approach that acts similarly to Appendix I by closing off legal trade routes. Sharks and rays play vital roles in ocean ecosystems, but they're increasingly being pushed to the edge. More than 37% of all shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. That number jumps to over 70% for species commonly involved in international trade. Oceanic whitetips, for example, were once among the most abundant open-ocean sharks. Now, their populations have crashed by over 90%, with an equally staggering percentage of their fins in trade likely coming from illegal sources. Whale sharks, despite some national protections, still face ship strikes, habitat loss, and illegal harvest, with their global numbers cut in half. For wedgefish and giant guitarfish, the situation is even more severe, with their fins fetching the highest prices in shark fin markets; their families are considered the most threatened among all sharks and rays. Even manta and devil rays, rightfully dubbed the 'gentle giants of the sea,' are not safe. With females birthing just one pup every two to three years, these rays cannot keep pace with commercial demand. Some populations have declined by over 90%, and illegal trade continues despite existing protections. Listing them under Appendix I is seen as the most effective way to ensure all of them survive. But it's not just about fins and gills for these individuals. Two additional proposals seek to list species on Appendix II, which regulates trade rather than bans it, to make sure it's sustainable. One focuses on gulper sharks, a deepwater species now being fished for their liver oil, used in high-end cosmetics. Like other shark species, gulpers grow slowly and reproduce even slower, making them highly vulnerable to overexploitation. A second proposal targets smoothound sharks, small coastal species prized for their meat in dishes like fish and chips in Australia and ceviche across Latin America. These sharks are increasingly overfished, and several species in this group are already classified as Endangered. Regulation under CITES Appendix II would require documentation proving that international trade is legal and not detrimental to wild populations. Even manta and devil rays, often seen as gentle giants of the sea, are not safe. With females ... More birthing just one pup every two to three years, these rays cannot keep pace with commercial demand. Altogether, there are seven proposals representing over 70 species that have been submitted, backed by more than 50 governments (including Panama, Ecuador, Brazil, Senegal, Benin, the European Union and the United Kingdom). Could this be a sign that the world is finally recognizing that the unchecked trade in sharks and rays cannot continue without severe ecological consequences? Conservationists hope so. CITES has long served as a critical backstop for wildlife, from elephants and tigers to sea turtles and whales. The case for sharks and rays is no different. Their slow life histories and key ecological roles make them just as deserving of the highest level of international protection. And unlike extractive industries that rely on killing these animals, tourism based on live sharks and rays — like whale shark diving — offers sustainable, long-term economic benefits to coastal communities. 'We must act now to prevent irreversible losses. Recent studies in the world's shark and ray trade hubs reveal that CITES-listed sharks and rays are still entering trade in alarming numbers – stronger action is clearly justified,' said Luke Warwick, Director of Shark and Ray Conservation for the Wildlife Conservation Society. 'These scientifically justified proposals meet all CITES criteria. They offer a chance to act before it's too late; before we lose these species and the benefits they can bring to coastal communities globally.' The stakes are clear. If these proposals are adopted in November, they could represent a major turning point for marine conservation. If not, we risk watching these species vanish within our lifetimes, taking with them not just the balance of our oceans… but also the livelihoods, traditions and futures of countless communities around the globe.
CBC
17-06-2025
- Science
- CBC
Remains of large shortfin mako shark found in eastern Nova Scotia
A marine animal rescue group has confirmed a rare but unfortunate find on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. The Halifax-based Marine Animal Response Society says the remains of a large shortfin mako shark — considered the fastest shark in the ocean — were found Saturday along the shoreline near Port Dufferin, N.S., about 140 kilometres east of Halifax. Executive director Tonya Wimmer said Monday it remains unclear how the 3.6-metre adult female died. "It wasn't in the greatest shape," Wimmer said in an interview, adding that the animal was too decomposed to allow for a necropsy. "She likely would have been there for a few days.… And there wasn't anything on the animal externally to give us any clues as to why it would be in this location." It is unusual to find this type of shark near shore. "They're usually offshore in warmer waters in the Gulf Stream, on the banks," Wimmer said. "It is a very rare thing for them to be this close to shore. But it has happened over the years." 'These are the fastest sharks that exist' According to the federal Fisheries Department, shortfin makos can grow to 3.9 metres in length and they can swim at speeds reaching 68 kilometres per hour. "It's an absolutely amazing animal," Wimmer said. "These are the fastest sharks that exist. They are phenomenal … And they have these aerial displays at times when they'll jump out of the water." Makos have been known to jump as high as six metres above the water. As well, they frequent Browns Bank on the continental shelf off southwestern Nova Scotia, as well as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They swim as far south as Argentina. And they have a particularly intimidating look. "The teeth are slender and slightly curved … and are visible even when the mouth is closed, giving it a fearsome appearance," the Fisheries Department says on its website. As for their colouring, the department says they have white undersides and "metallic indigo blue" topsides. Increase in shark sightings They mainly eat squid, mackerel, tuna, bonitos and swordfish. But other sharks and porpoises are sometimes on the menu. "It is rarely encountered by swimmers or divers due to its oceanic nature and should be treated with respect and caution," the department says. "The mako has been known to attack boats on occasion but most of these attacks are usually linked to being hooked by game fishers and are considered abnormal behaviour." Little else is known about this elusive species, which was designated as endangered in 2019 by the independent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The mako population is primarily threatened by longline fisheries that are trying to catch other fish. In recent years, there has been an increase in shark sightings along Canada's East Coast, with reports of great white sharks getting most of the attention. Last July, the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University in Halifax confirmed it was working on a plan to post warning signs for beachgoers for the first time. Experts say conservation measures had helped the great white shark population recover from a drastic decline in the 1970s and 1980s. As well, they said climate change had led to warmer ocean temperatures, making it easier for many ocean species to spread northward. But Wimmer said it's too early to tell what is happening with the makos. Past mako encounters in N.S. "Climate change is affecting a lot of the marine animals in our ocean. We've seen it with whales, we've seen it with other species.… [But] we don't have a lot of information on makos. It is something still to be determined." In 2002, several makos were caught during a shark fishing derby 16 kilometres from Halifax harbour. Two years later, a massive 490-kilogram mako was landed in Yarmouth, N.S., where it was hauled away with a forklift, its gaping jaws showing rows of hooked teeth. Still, makos are seldom found in waters colder than 16 C, experts say.
News24
27-05-2025
- General
- News24
Massive elephant seal pays Gordon's Bay residents a ‘surprise' visit
An elephant seal has been spotted in a residential area in Gordon's Bay. The SPCA said it is working on a plan to safely remove the seal. Residents have been urged to keep their distance. Gordon's Bay residents woke up to an unexpected visitor in front of their homes on Tuesday morning after an elephant seal took a short trip inland. The seal was spotted outside homes in Sir Lowry's Pass Road. SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham confirmed the incident, describing it as a 'surprise'. 'Our SPCA inspectors are currently on-site in Sir Lowry's Pass Road, where a rather unexpected visitor - an elephant seal - has found its way into a residential area,' she said. 'We're actively working on a safe and stress-free plan to relocate this magnificent marine mammal. Please avoid the area to help us give the seal the space and calm it needs while we carry out the rescue.' According to the Two Ocean's Aquarium, southern elephant seals are the largest of the world's seal species. Males can grow to lengths of nearly seven metres and weigh as much as five tonnes. Females are much smaller than males, typically reaching three metres in length and weighing up to 900kg. Elephant Seal Surprise in Gordon's Bay SPCA Inspectors are currently on site in Sir Lowry's Pass Road, where a rather unexpected visitor — an Elephant Seal — has found its way into a residential area. They're actively working on a safe and stress-free plan to relocate this… — alexlansdowne (@alexlansdowne) May 27, 2025 Southern elephant seals have a wide distribution in the Southern Ocean, with the majority of breeding and resting sites on the Subantarctic and Antarctic Islands. The seals spend up to 85% of each year at sea, only visiting land during breeding, moulting, and winter periods. Elephant seals regularly come ashore along Cape Town's coastline to moult. Among the most famous of these is a southern elephant seal named Buffel. Buffel first appeared in Buffelsbaai in 2016. In the years to follow, Buffel began to reappear on Duiker Island, Fish Hoek Beach, and around Cape Point for his annual moult.
