BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS - SAN DIEGO

UCSD BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS   Here's what's happening....

Shark Summer

Each July, join us as we dive deep into the world of these amazing animals, with fin-tastic fun for shark fans of all ages! Shark Summer celebrates the vital role sharks play in the ecosystem, while shining a light on the important conservation work and research being done to protect them.

At Birch Aquarium, our commitment to ocean conservation and climate action starts at home. Through a variety of on-site initiatives, we bring our mission to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet to life.

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It's been years since I posted and linked to this aquarium!

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AQUARIUM?  WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?  

SO MANY KINDS OF SHARKS!

DOLPHINS GANG UP ON SHARKS?!

NO ORDINARY SKIN - SHARKS

PDF FILE RESEARCH GATE DEEP DIVE INTO SHARK ECOLOGY

Yes YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE REPORT.  Link to this Research Gate report right here! 

RESEARCH GATE : Deep Dive into Shark Ecology 

 by Primo Micarelli

Centro Studi Squali - Sharks Studies Centre - Scientific Institute,

Francesca Romana Reinero

Centro Studi Squali-Sharks Studies Center

CONTENDER : LARGEST WHITE SHARK EVER TAGGED OFF COAST OF FLORIDA : MALE ALMOST FOURTEEN FEET LONG! NAMED "CONTENDER"

Siren here!

We are going to the https://www.ocearch.org/tracker/detail/contender OCEARCH TRACKER SITE SO YOU TOO CAN WATCH CONTENDER SWIM!

What is his territory if he has one?!

over 1600 pounds too!

*** He keeps pinging !

GOLDEN SHARK CAUGHT OFF COAST OF COSTA RICA

 REAL CLEAR SCIENCE : GOLDEN SHARK CAUGHT

Excerpt: One spectacular example of this is a nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) caught and released by sports fishers off the coast of Costa Rica in August 2024. Not only was this shark not its usual brown cookie-dough color, but it was vividly orange-colored – with white eyes, to boot.

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WHY IS THIS SHARK THAT LOOKS TO BE THE COLOR OF A GOLD FISH ORANGE? sHE LIKES WARM WATER TOO!

Click on the link to see the photo!  Almost unbelievable!

170O POUND GREAT WHITE SHARK TRACKED - FLORIDA TO NORTH CAROLINA : HE'S NAMED "CONTENDER"

CBS NEWS : 1700 POUND SHARK TRACKED OFF COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA 

Excerpt:

Sharks don't ping every day. Their movements are tracked by devices attached to their dorsal fins. The trackers can't transmit through water, OCEARCH senior data scientist John Tyminski said in a video published by the organization. To accurately confirm a shark's location, the tracker must break the surface while an Argos satellite is above. The satellites are only in a given spot for about 13 minutes. During that time, the tracker must send multiple messages for a location to be confirmed.

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ARE YOU AFRAID OF SHARKS? Leave me a comment!  Siren

DO YOU KNOW YOUR SHARKS?

 

Some are little - some are big -

FIRST SHARK OFF ANTARCTICA CAUGHT ON CAMERA - WHY IT MATTERS

FORBES : ANTARCTICAS FIRST SHARK CAUGHT ON CAMERA 

Excerpt: Sharks have survived mass extinctions, shifting continents and dramatic climate swings for more than 400 million years. They patrol coral reefs, cruise open oceans, call kelp forests home and rule the deep sea. And while Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) are known to rule the icy, dark waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Antarctic landscape has long been barren of this predator. The Southern Ocean is frigid, remote and punishingly cold, with temperatures dipping below zero. Which is why new footage captured near the South Shetland Islands is so remarkable: for the first time, a shark has been recorded on video in the Southern Ocean itself.

DRAW A SAND TIGER SHARK

 OCEANA on SAND TIGER SHARKS

Excerpt: The sand tiger shark lives worldwide near the seafloor in surf zones, shallow bays and coral and rocky reefs. They are a large species, growing to a maximum length of 10.5 feet (3.2 m) and weight of 350 pounds (159 kg). The sand tiger shark is the only shark that is known to maintain neutral buoyancy by gulping air at the water’s surface and holding it in its stomach. This allows the sand tiger shark to hover motionless in the water.

DRAW A BULL SHARK

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION on BULL SHARKS  They can live in salt or fresh water and can go up a river....

DRAW A WHALE SHARK

 

DRAW A GREAT WHITE SHARK

 Get your pencils out and try these easy to follow lessons on drawing sharks....  Dover Publications is the source of these drawings

OCEANA : PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES WITH LEGAL ACTION : 10% OF GLOBAL FISH CATCH IS DISCARDED

OCEANA CAMPAIGNS : SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES 

EXCERPT: Did you know that one of the most impactful ways to protect endangered ocean species is to prevent them from being unintentionally caught up in fishing gear?

About 10% of the world’s global fish catch is discarded. And each year, fishing gear kills or injures millions of non-targeted animals as bycatch, including sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, and sea turtles, some of which are vulnerable or endangered ocean species.

In recent years, Oceana has helped to ban the deadly shark fin trade in the United States and Canada. Oceana is continuing to work to reduce bycatch and protect important species like the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from destructive fishing practices and other human caused threats.

Oceana and our allies have won more than 75 victories to protect threatened and endangered ocean species, including sharks, sea turtles, and whales.Did you know that one of the most impactful ways to protect endangered ocean species is to prevent them from being unintentionally caught up in fishing gear?

About 10% of the world’s global fish catch is discarded. And each year, fishing gear kills or injures millions of non-targeted animals as bycatch, including sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, and sea turtles, some of which are vulnerable or endangered ocean species.

In recent years, Oceana has helped to ban the deadly shark fin trade in the United States and Canada. Oceana is continuing to work to reduce bycatch and protect important species like the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from destructive fishing practices and other human caused threats.

Oceana and our allies have won more than 75 victories to protect threatened and endangered ocean species, including sharks, sea turtles, and whales.

CAL STATE LONG BEACH SHARK LAB : WHITE SHARKS LURK IN THE MUCK

A species older than the dinosaurs.

CSU LONG BEACH SHARK LAB

Sharks are not interested in humans as food...

SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION FOCUSING ON SHARKS AND RAYS : SIGN UP FOR OCEAN WEEK IN REVIEW

SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION 

Sharks, rays and chimaeras are overfished and heading for extinction. More than 300 scientists have published 20 years of data in a landmark global report that details the biology, fisheries, trade, conservation efforts and policy reforms for these marine animals across 158 countries and jurisdictions. It’s a global wake-up call: we need to address overfishing and bycatch – and urgently. But there is also hope. We have the information to hand, and the dedication of so many has brought us to a historic moment when we can steer towards sustainability.

YOU Can link to three blogs at this website :   OCEAN WEEK IN REVIEW, THE VOICE OF COCOS, and It's Your Ocean...

OCEAN WEEK IN REVIEW

Excerpt:

Sea Save Foundation’s publication, “The Ocean Week in Review,” is a crucial weekly digest that encapsulates vital oceanic news for its ever-growing readership. Having published over 520 editions with 15,000 story summaries, each edition offers succinct, four-sentence narratives accompanied by illustrative photographs and further reading hyperlinks, making it easily consumable during daily commutes. Released every Friday on its dedicated blog and across multiple social media platforms, the content is meticulously researched and vetted, drawing from reliable news sources and translating often complex scientific jargon into captivating, layman-friendly language. This initiative not only keeps its audience informed about the latest in oceanic breakthroughs, challenges, and advocacy but also empowers them with the knowledge to support and champion the cause of preserving our oceans.

SHARK ATTACK HOT SPOTS? THE INTERNATIONAL SHARK ATTACK FILE!

 FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - SHARK ATTACK FILE

Siren here! This is a new one for me!  Maps and Data!  

This is the world's ONLY scientifically documented and comprehensive database of all known shark attacks.  Beginning in 1958, but going back too, there are now close to 7000 investigations...

CHECK OUT THE INTERACTIVE MAPS...

What are the chances?

PLUSH SHARK : CREATIVE PROJECTS : Plush Zilla

KILLER WHALES AFTER BLUE SHARK : HE GOT AWAY BECAUSE KILLER WHALES NO LIKE

YAHOO NEWS : Sacramento Bee : Enormous sea creatures investigate a ‘startled’ blue shark off California 

Excerpt:  This CA140B pod of orcas, known as Louise’s family after their matriarch, are regular visitors to the Monterey area and are seen several times a year, Talty said. Most killer whale sightings take place in April and May near Monterey.

“What a rare and lucky encounter today between two unique species!” Monterey Bay Whale Watch said on Facebook.

Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family, according to the World Wildlife Fund. They can reach up to 32 feet and more than 12,000 pounds.

Orcas can live up to 90 years and are a top predator, with 100 teeth. They feed mainly on other marine mammals and fish, along with seabirds and marine turtles.

Blue sharks can reach up to 13 feet long and weigh more than 450 pounds, according to Brittanica. They feed mainly on fish, squid and crustaceans.