Saving Seafood

90-Day Findings to List the Smooth Hammerhead and Bigeye Thresher Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act

August 11, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries announces a 90-day finding on a petition to list the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) range-wide or, in the alternative, any identified distinct population segments (DPSs), as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and to designate critical habitat concurrently with the listing. We find that the petition and information in our files present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.

NOAA Fisheries also announces a 90-day finding on a petition to list the bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) range-wide, or in the alternative, as one or more DPSs identified by the petitioners as endangered or threatened under the ESA. We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted for the species worldwide.

Accordingly, in both instances we will conduct a status reviews of smooth hammerhead shark and bigeye thresher shark to determine if the petitioned actions are warranted.

Comments on the proposed rule for smooth hammerhead shark must be received by October 13, 2015. For more information see the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposed rule for bigeye thresher shark must be received by October 13, 2015. For more information see the proposed rule.

 

The Shark Fishermen of New England

August 6, 2015 — MARTHA’S VINEYARD, Mass. — Ever since Steven Spielberg set a shark fin gliding through the waters of a fictional New England town, Martha’s Vineyard has become irrevocably associated with the movie “Jaws.” The photographer Maggie Shannon was born more than a decade after the film was shot on the island, in 1974, but growing up on the Vineyard she had a “Jaws” poster hanging from her wall, and would attend the annual Monster Shark Tournament that took place each July. Since then, the Vineyard—its close-knit year-round community, the legacy of “Jaws,” and the island’s relationship to the many tourists who descend upon it each year—has become a central subject of her work.

For her new series, Shannon joined one of the fishing crews who participated in this year’s Monster Shark event, documenting the bait, the blood, and the physicality involved in hauling sharks from the ocean.

Read the full story at The New Yorker

Northwest Atlantic Shark Cooperative Research Fishery

July 16, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Sharks are vital to the health of the ecosystems they inhabit, and some represent an important resource for commercial and recreational fishing communities. While federal fisheries laws are designed to ensure sustainable shark populations, cooperative research by commercial fishermen is a key component for supporting sustainable fishery management of sharks in the Northwest Atlantic.

Each fall, commercial fishermen are given the opportunity to apply for, and if qualified, to be randomly selected to participate in the research fishery. Fishermen who are interested, can sign up for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) News to receive notice about how to apply along with other information about shark and HMS fisheries.

Learn more from our shark researchers about the science behind shark fishery management in the Northwest Atlantic. Watch our latest Youtube video!

And for more shark science videos, visit NOAA Fisheries YouTube channel.

 

 

SOUTH CAROLINA: Myrtle Beach considers ban on chumming from fishing piers

July 13, 2015 — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — It’s not unusual for fishermen on the 2nd Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach to clean their catch right on the pier and then throw the fish remains back in the ocean.

But city officials worry that tossing that fish debris, or chum, into the water can attract sharks to the area, and shark bites have been a problem for swimmers on other beaches this summer.

“The idea here is to take away any accidental chance that somehow a fisherman could, by accident, draw a shark into the swim zone,” said city spokesman Mark Kruea.

At Tuesday’s regular meeting, city council will consider a ban on chumming from the city’s fishing piers.

Read the full story at WPDE.COM

 

SHARK-DETECTING BUOYS PUT IN PLACE OFF MASSACHUSETTS COAST

July 13, 2015 — MASSACHUSETTS — The South Shore’s first shark-detecting buoy was set afloat off Duxbury Wednesday, with three more placed along the Plymouth coastline Friday.

The buoys, attached to acoustic receivers, will track any tagged sharks swimming within a 200-yard radius.

“We’re trying to get a sense of local movements of white sharks and their behaviors for the purpose of public safety,” said Gregory Skomal, a senior biologist with the state Division of Marine Fisheries.

The receivers on the buoys detect sounds emitted by the transmitters on tagged sharks, Skomal said. The receivers will record the date and time when the shark swims by, he said, and scientists from the Division of Marine Fisheries will download information from the receiver every couple of weeks.

Tracking buoys have floated off Cape Cod since 2010, monitoring shark movements in Chatham, Orleans, and Truro, Skomal said, and additional receivers have been added each year.

Plymouth harbormaster Chad Hunter said Friday that officials are seeking information about the sharks’ behavior that might help keep residents safe.

Read the full story at The Boston Globe 

 

NORTH CAROLINA: Second Crystal Coast town enacts fishing restrictions because of shark attacks

July 10, 2015 — A second town along the Crystal Coast is enacting restrictions on fishing in light of recent shark attacks, while the state is giving them the green light.

Pine Knoll Shores says it will ban all fishing with 200 yards of 10 popular beach access locations in the town, effective Monday.

This comes after Emerald Isle put a temporary ban on shark fishing and “chumming” within the town limits until September 15th.

Experts have said that shark fishing can entice the sharks closer to the shore. Since June 11th, eight people in the state have been bitten by sharks.

The locations in Pine Knoll Shores are: Ocean Park, Iron Steam public beach access, Memorial Park public beach access, Hammer Park access, two public accesses at Beacons Reach, the Knollwood public beach access, as well as the lodges at The Atlantis, The Seahawk, and The Windjammer.

Read the full story and watch the video at WITN

 

North Carolina town bans shark fishing

July 7, 2015 — An Eastern North Carolina town has banned shark fishing until after Labor Day.

The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners met in a special meeting on Monday and adopted a new ordinance that temporarily bans shark fishing and / or “chumming” activities on the beach and nearshore areas, effective immediately, according to information from the town.

Read the full story at the Jacksonville Daily News

 

RUSTY HUDSON: Shark Sanctuaries; The Unintended Consequence from Underfishing and Overregulation

June 06, 2015 — I am Rusty Hudson, a shark specialist and reasons provided below show the reality about the United States (US) federal shark fishing management. My personal US Atlantic shark fishing history exists since the 1960’s, while my Florida ancestors were watermen and date back generations on this Atlantic coast. The facts show why US shark attacks have increased.

During the late 1970’s the US federal government began a preliminary shark fishery management plan (FMP) by the US Department of Commerce (DOC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the agency called the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that promoted ideas encouraging fishermen to use under-utilized marine species, (i.e. sharks), for food. The US commercial fishing interests followed the US government’s advice during the 1980’s to catch, land sharks and develop seafood marketing, domestically and internationally. The public demand for sharks increased in the US at this stage, but the NMFS failed to monitor the commercial coastal shark landings averaging up to fifteen millions pounds in the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In the last part of the 1980’s, China, during Deng Xiaoping’s reformation period the economic growth saw an increased demand from their new affluent populations for shark fin soup, one of eight traditional Chinese culinary treasures. Shark’s fin values, and shark harvests worldwide began to increase significantly into the 1990’s due to the publicity. Shark fishing began to be negatively publicized in the news, on television with science style documentaries, and with anti- shark fishing media campaigns by environmental non-governmental organizations seeking membership funding.

About 1989 the US DOC NOAA NMFS staff began an effort to develop an Atlantic Shark FMP involving the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area from Maine to Texas, and included the Caribbean Sea region around the US Territories of Puerto Rico, St. Croix and the US Virgin Islands. On April 26, 1993 the Atlantic Shark FMP final rule was published and the NMFS Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division closed US Atlantic shark fishing on May 15, 1993.

Around the early 1990’s some scientists influenced the state of Florida to consider a mercury warning about eating shark meat. Overnight, nationwide the sale of shark meat fell dramatically, (same as a similar mercury media scare over swordfish consumption during the 1970’s). After much media hype, the state of Florida and other states established mercury advisories to pregnant women, yet the damage was significant for the US fish markets as shark sales fell by over half. Then the Atlantic Shark FMP became effective causing even more reductions in shark landings.

Read the full opinion piece here

 

MASSACHUSETTS: Great White Sharks Are Swarming Cape Cod and It’s the Government’s Fault

June 20, 2015 — CAPE COD, Mass. — 40 years ago, Jaws terrified beach-goers from swimming too far from the shore. Now, in real life, great white sharks are filling the waters off Cape Cod.

Forty years ago this month, Jaws, Peter Benchley’s best-selling toothy fish tale, was made into an iconic movie that helped usher in a new era of blockbuster films. Set in a fictional New England town, it told the tale of a bloodthirsty great white shark that developed a taste for humans and a penchant for gory mischief. Filmed primarily on Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Cape Cod, the irony was that while sharks such as the porbeagle, thresher, tiger, and mako were abundant, great whites were relatively a rare encounter.Fast-forward forty years, and that is no longer the case. Great whites are now in abundance in the waters around Cape Cod. These regular seasonal visitors have reached the point of tourist attraction, drawing throngs to the Cape’s sandy beaches in hopes of a glimpse of one of the toothy beasts. Even with an uptick in attacks—several have been reported in recent years—the community vibe is more welcoming than menacing.

“If anything I’ve noticed, among the business community of the town of Chatham, which is the epicenter of white shark activity, they’ve embraced these animals as a way to make money and draw people to the town,” says Dr. Greg Skomal, a senior biologist with the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries department, leading expert on these apex predators, and essentially the New England great white guru. “Virtually every shop on Main Street is selling some kind of shark trinket or shirt, you name it. I think it’s been a positive response, one of people trying to embrace these animals.”

Read the full story at The Daily Beast 

 

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dmf/contact-information/skomal-dr-greg.html

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/09/04/year-the-shark-all-the-local-sightings-and-attacks/5NuvvxKTPe09pVxS4M0JbO/story.html

http://www.livescience.com/27338-great-white-sharks.html