Movies like Jaws and sensationalized media reports of swimmers being attacked by sharks have given the massive Great White Shark a bad rap, and now this awesome predator is facing dwindling numbers making it even rarer than the endangered tiger. Researchers have recently learned their numbers are dwindling and their estimation of the global population was much lower than originally though.  New data from a Stanford University research team involved in tagging and monitoring these sharks discovered they are far more mobile and reports of Great White sightings were often the same shark even though they may happen hundred or thousands of miles away.

“People see a Great White shark on the South California coast – and another hundreds of miles away,” said Dr. Ronald O’Dor, senior scientist at the Census of Marine Life. “We are now understanding that they are more mobile than we thought – and actually it’s the same shark appearing in different places.”

This research shed new light on how the scientific community viewed the shark population. Since the Great White was seen in different parts of the world, scientists were under the impression that although Great Whites are rare, they were not endangered. The new study has shown the Great White population has dropped below the 3,500 tigers that exist in the wild.

“I recently heard a report from the team that’s been tagging Great White sharks, added O’Dor. “When I heard there maybe fewer than tigers I thought ‘oh my god’ That is truly scary.”

While our fears of the shark may diminish any pity we may have on the population, losing such a majestic creature from the oceans is devastating. Public fear and misunderstanding has led to rampant controls and fishing to eradicate the beast from local waters. According to the International Shark Attack File, there are an average of 63 unprovoked shark attacks globally each year with an average fatality rate of 3.8 per year. To put this in perspective there are an average of 180 fatalities each year from automobile collisions with the seemingly harmless deer.

D’Odor said Great Whites, whose numbers have dropped by 90 per cent in 20 years are not only in danger from illegal fishing but also from being hit by boats and tangled up in fishing nets. Hoping for some form of coexistence to allow the sharks to have their space, he cites the use of tagging and monitoring devices on beaches in Australia to warn swimmers and surfers.

“The Australians have now got a system where they put tags on Great White sharks and they have receivers on the beaches so when a great white comes into the bay the receiver automatically makes a cell phone call and tells the guy in charge to close the beach. So we can co-exist with marine life.”

[via the Telegraph, International Shark Attack File]

Xanthichthys sp. “dorsopunctatus” is an unusual triggerfish species which we have been researching for the better part of a year and half since we first encountered a specimen at a House of Fins in Greenwich CT. Last week Quality Marine posted that they had a specimen of this fish which so far is only being collected from Christmas Island. Although QM states that this is the first one they’ve seen in 5 years, their specimen is actually the 5fth that we have documented over the last 15 months. Last year Richard Pyle wrote an article about some deep diving he and Brian Greene did around Christmas Island, precisely where this new triggerfish is being collected. During their Xmas Island diving they captured a specimen of triggerfish (pictured at right) like the one in question and they called it a new species. Like some other aquarist, we first believed this fish to be a hybrid cross involving at least Xanthichthys lineopunctatus or the female thereof, but If Pyle and Greene say this is a new species then we’ll take the ichthyologist’s word for it. Moreover, if this fish was a hybrid we would expect to see a lot more variation in it’s appearance and a whole lot more intermediates of color and pattern. So far the 5 specimens we have seen have been very consistent in appearance which leads us to agree with Pyle and Greene that this fish is indeed a new species. We have taken the liberty of giving this fish the provisional name of X. sp. “dorsopunctatus” because the pattern of spots on the top of the body is the most notable feature of this species and it is very possible that this is the latin name that will be used to describe this species. Huge thanks to Rob Mougey for discussing at length this fish with us, including a specimen that lives in his collection. Follow the break for a video of the new Xanthichthys triggerfish species from Christmas Island.

Coral Reef Spain, a wholesaler and retailer business in Spain is the first retailer to receive ORA clownfish shipped from the United States. This is the first time ever that a Spanish hobbyist can buy a farmed ORA fish. Most clownfish are wild caught but this allows Spanish hobbyists to purchase tank raised clownfish which helps to keep our stock levels in the ocean secure. Kudos to ORA and Coral Reef Spain. Hopefully soon ORA will begin to export other types of fish across the Atlantic if they don’t already.

Thanks Javier!

Coral Reef Spain, a wholesaler and retailer business in Spain, is proud to announce that the first ORA (www.orafarm) fishes landen in Picasso’s country. This is the first time ever that a Spanish hobbyist can buy a farmed ORA fish. Picassos, Perculas, Platinium, etc are now available thanks to Coral Reef Spain that get a special agreement with ORA. As wholesalers, we have been distributing farmed fishes from ORA during the last week and, from now on, they will be available on regular basis. The idea is NOT import wild fishes meanwhile ORA is producing and exporting them outside the US.

Mating rituals in the marine world are always intriguing and can be elusive to catch on camera especially when it comes to the reef denizens. This great video chronicles the Striped Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) spawning on a reef in a mangrove lagoon in Guam. Brought to you by the team at Aquaqest Video Productions (who have to have some of the coolest jobs, BTW), Pete and the team not only bring you the “action” but do an excellent job in documenting just how hard it is to catch these tiny, colorful creatures on film.

Related Posts

• Maui proposes bill to regulate fish harvesting
• Naso brevirostris spawn caught on video

Post from: Reef Builders

OMG! Fish voyeur heaven: Mandarinfish caught in the act

OMG! Fish voyeur heaven: Mandarinfish caught in the act

Maui county in Hawaii is exploring new legislature to tighten up the state’s existing laws on how ornamental fish for the aquarium trade are treated when caught before they reach the distribution channel. The bill proposed last week would give Maui island animal control officers the authority to ensure that aquarium fish essentially are put on legal par with other pets, such as dogs and cats. It would prohibit aquarium fish harvesters from harming or killing the fish, whether they intend to or not. With Hawaii’s aquarium fish population declining by 59 percent over the last 20 years, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources estimates in 2009 about half a dozen Maui fishermen used net traps to catch over 12,000 aquarium fish valued at $32,478, while statewide almost one million fish were sold for nearly $2 million. Many feel these numbers are on the low side and could be 10 times more than what is reported. Environmentalist and dive operator Renee Umberger argues that the ornamental aquarium fish trade has mortality rates up to 99 percent from one year of capture, while industry sides argue the number is as low as zero. Regardless of the number, as a hobbyist we are looking for healthy fish whose collection is not adversely impacting the environment. It will be interesting to watch this bill progress and see if the rest of the state follows suit. Follow the break to see what the proposed bill would do to require the humane treatment of aquarium fish.

• Prohibit many industry practices, including withholding food for more than 12 hours; deflating the swim bladder; trimming the spine or fins; exposure to air; and temperature changes of more than 2 degrees.
• Include causing the death of fish as being an inhumane treatment of aquatic life.
• Require documentation of mortality rates and disposal methods of dead fish.
• Provide that violations would be a misdemeanor with a fine between $500 and $2,000 and up to a year in jail.
• Molina’s bill would do the following to require the humane treatment of aquarium fish:
• Prohibit many industry practices, including withholding food for more than 12 hours; deflating the swim bladder; trimming the spine or fins; exposure to air; and temperature changes of more than 2 degrees.
• Include causing the death of fish as being an inhumane treatment of aquatic life.
• Require documentation of mortality rates and disposal methods of dead fish.
• Provide that violations would be a misdemeanor with a fine between $500 and $2,000 and up to a year in jail.
• Regardless of the number, as a hobbyist we are looking for healthy fish whose collection is not impacting the environment too negatively.

[via The Maui News, Quality Marine, Photo: NOAA]

Related Posts

• Study shows concensus, save the reefs
• Robot Fish army will be used to detect pollution, then take over the seas

Post from: Reef Builders

Maui proposes bill to regulate fish harvesting

Maui proposes bill to regulate fish harvesting