Our selection of top shark stories, highlighting the latest news and discoveries from around the world...

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How A Golden Nurse Shark Made History

12th August

Off the coast of Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica, a sport fishing trip in 121 feet (37 meters) of water led to a quite unusual find: a nurse shark glowing with an intense yellow-orange coloration. At roughly 6.6 ft (2 m) in length, the adult shark was an unmistakable outlier in a species known for its subdued coloration.

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Whale shark hotspot discovered along the Great Barrier Reef

19th August

The study unveils a consistent seasonal gathering point for whale sharks, mostly juvenile males, in Wreck Bay, along the northern portion of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the first known aggregation found in eastern Australia and in the entire southwest Pacific Ocean.

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Galway Hosts International Basking Shark Conference

25th August

A 'shark' was walked through Galway to be displayed at the Spanish Arch to draw attention to the international gathering of scientists, researchers and shark enthusiasts from around the world this Friday in the city.

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Newborn sharks swim like ‘ninjas’ to avoid predator attacks

27th August

New research shows that baby blacktip reef sharks use warm waters to boost their escape performance from adult sharks, barracudas and other predators.

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Elusive Sailback Houndshark Rediscovered in Papua New Guinea After 50 Years

28th August

In July 1970, a fisherman caught an unfamiliar shark in Papua New Guinea’s Astrolabe Bay. The mysterious creature—a pregnant female—had large, wide eyes, a big head and a short mouth. It also had a prominent, elongated fin protruding from its back, similar in appearance to a sail on a sailboat. Researchers later identified the animal as a new genus and species: the sailback houndshark (Gogolia filewoodi).

However, after that initial sighting, scientists never saw another sailback houndshark. That is, until now—more than 50 years later, the elusive creature has turned up again.

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Study homes in on elusive Greenland shark

28th August

A new study of the mysterious Greenland shark has revealed the likelihood that specimens are born in the deep mid-Atlantic and then move closer to Europe as they enter their teenage years. Their favourite hang-out and feeding spot at this stage appears to be the Skagerrak strait between Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

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Whale sharks are literally scarred by human activity

29th August

The sight of a whale shark, the largest fish alive today, leaves most people humbled. Its slow, graceful movements and gentle nature often make them symbols of the ocean’s mystery. Yet behind this serene image lies a struggle for survival.

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