News News Digest - September Our selection of top shark stories, highlighting the latest news and discoveries from around the world... Sharks are Increasingly on the Menu 28 September Sharks of the Mediterranean are incredibly diverse. But are also under serious threat from overfishing. Tunisia is historically one of the region's key shark fishing nations. Yet, existing laws to control and manage shark fishing have still not been adopted. With intense competition between fishing boats, and a lack of awareness or policing, fishers are increasingly turning to sharks. Find out more about our collaborative work in and around the Mediterranean here. A Shark on the Hunt Wins the Heart of the Drone Photo Awards: 2020 24 September An extraordinary image! A run of salmon forming a heart-shaped shoal to evade a hungry shark wins top prize. The use of drones is a fast-growing phenomenon in the natural photography world. It’s a fantastic tool providing a unique birds-eye view of the often elusive lives of sharks and other wildlife. Check out the winning photo. Tagging Data Supports Evidence of Hotspot for Basking Sharks off the West Coast of Scotland 22 September A Basking Shark tagged off County Clare in Ireland has been re-sighted nearly 4 months later off the west coast of Scotland! This is the third Irish tag to be recorded. Confirming the connectivity between Irish and Scottish waters for Basking Sharks. ICYMI: 'Extinction: The Facts' - Attenborough's new documentary is surprisingly radical Sir David Attenborough once again captured the attention of millions with his recent documentary. But this episode struck a different tone. ‘Extinction: The Facts’ does not hold back on hard-hitting truths on the declining state of our planet and its biodiversity. It sends home a strong message that we’re all connected, from humans to sharks to insects. And how we can all do our bit to help. World Manta Day: Everything You Need to Know... 17 September Last week was the first official annual celebration of World Manta Day! Manta and Devil Rays are often caught in fisheries as bycatch. Their gill-rakers are highly prized, which makes them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Find out more about their biology and ecology with our ID guides. Female Sharks are the Biggest Fish (didn't we already know this?)... 16 September During ‘lockdown’ many of us became pro's at online pub quiz questions like...what's the biggest fish in the sea? We all know that one, a Whale Shark right?! Don’t worry, your score cards remain intact. Now it's official. Scientists have proved that female Whale Sharks grow bigger (and slower) than male Whale Sharks! New Research on Migration Patterns of Smooth Hammerhead Sharks 15 September Teams of scientists found that Smooth Hammerhead Sharks act like snowbirds! How? These sharks, like others, migrate to find the best ‘real estate’ of warmer waters and food rich areas at different times of the year. The more we know about migration patterns, the more we can help these threatened sharks. Diversifying the World of Shark Science and Conservation 14 September An exciting new project from ‘MISS’, Minorities in Shark Science! These young marine biologists are working to create a diverse community for women of colour in science. MISS are breaking down barriers and creating space for equal opportunity. And asking us to look at shark research with fresh eyes. Rock-a-by Shark-y 9 September One question we often get asked is, do sharks sleep? Well, a new study has proved that some certainly do! The behaviours of Port Jackson Sharks and Draughtsboard Sharks were tested for two signs of ‘true sleep’. Check out the article to find out more... More Questions Than Answers: Recent Australia Shark Bite 8 September The total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide remains extremely low. But, in the unfortunate event when an incident does occur, it's devastating for all those involved. And raises many of the same questions. Dr Blake Chapman explains the huge number of factors that must be considered when trying to answer the ultimate question, ‘why did this happen?' Fossil Upends Theory of How Shark Skeletons Evolved 7 September A 410-million year old fossilized fish skull (made of bone) has been a real head scratcher for scientists. It's long been theorised that sharks, and their skeleton of cartilage, evolved before bony fish. But this discovery is making scientists rethink how these two groups of fish evolved. How Massive was the Meg? 3 September We always knew the Megalodon was well…mega! But before we only had an estimation of its length based off fossil teeth and mathematical comparisons to the White Shark. Now scientists have determined the size of different body parts of this prehistoric shark, including a dorsal fin that's as tall as a human!Using comparisons to five species of shark still around today, scientists have been able to estimate the body dimensions of a 16m Megalodon. The head alone measures 4.65m. Mega indeed! Drone Footage Captures ‘Synchronised’ Basking Shark Behaviour 3 September Researchers were treated to an incredible encounter when they captured drone footage of nine circling Basking Sharks off County Clare, Ireland. The Basking Shark’s behaviour was described as ‘methodical, orchestrated, as if they were doing synchronised swimming’. And has been linked to courtship. Giving scientists a rare glimpse into the little-known behaviour of the world’s second largest fish. Nursery for Manta Rays ‘Right Under Our Nose’ 3 September An unexpected sighting has led to the discovery of a suspected nursery ground for manta rays. Only the third ever found in the world. Over 59 manta rays have been identified between 2016-2019 in the coastal waters of South Florida. Most of them juveniles. Dubbed “urban mantas”, these rays are close neighbours to over six million people. How Some Animals Have ‘Virgin Births’: Parthenogenesis Explained Parthenogenesis. It's a big word. But essentially means, animals producing offspring without mating. This concept may seem odd, even impossible. But it's been proved possible for a range of different species, including Zebra Sharks. This feature in National Geographic explains more. Social Media: A Valuable Tool to Inform Shark Conservation in Greece Its risky business being a shark in the Mediterranean. Over half of the sharks found in these waters face an increased risk of extinction. Low population numbers mean species are hard to detect through usual methods. Social media is becoming an increasingly valuable tool to collect and communicate important information. Helping conserve vulnerable species. From a study of 116 social media posts carried out in Greece, researchers found that over 60% of the posts referred to threatened species. New Study Reveals More About the Life History of the Goblin Shark Aging the weird but wonderful Goblin Shark requires unconventional methods. Using a technique that involves staining sections of the spine, we now know that this deep-water shark matures at ~16 years and can live up to 60 years! Related Links: ► News Digest - August ► More newsBanner image: Basking Shark © Nick Robertson Brown Manage Cookie Preferences