Shark Focus

MEMBER’S pagesSharks Temples of Hawai’iRory SacreeJuniorMEMBER’S pageUpper Beeding Primary School learn about raysOn Wednesday 8th May a special event took placeat Upper Beeding Primary School in West Sussexto complement ‘the seaside’ topic the childrenhave been working with over the past few weeks.Popular local author Cathy Watts visited the schoolfor the day with a sea-themed reading from herbooks (see www.beachhutbooks.co.uk) and helda craft event which involved ninety children makingmermaid’s purses! Thanks to the Shark Trust’sleaflet, we were able to see what a baby ray lookedlike - and then the children drew one to placeinside their own mermaids’ purses. The range ofdifferently-coloured purses (complete with glitterof course) was amazing as you can see from thephotos and now the children are looking forward tovisiting the local Sea Life Centre in Brighton to seesome rays in real life!Cathy Watts has also written a short story for SharkTrust supporters called Adam & The Embryo, whichcan be read at www.sharktrust.org/sharkstories.Photo. Mermaids © Photographer. purses. © Cathy Watts.A Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus, viewed by some Hawaiians as an aumakua, or ancestral spirit. © Steve Jones.In recent years I have been very fortunate to sea-kayak with Basking Sharks off theCornish coast, dive with Great Whites off South Africa and see Tiger Sharks feeding ona dead Humpback Whale off the Napoli coast, Kauai.But no experience can quite compare with what my girlfriend and I witnessed asvisitors to the Big Island, Hawai’i in 2012. We were camping at Spencer Beach Parkcompletely oblivious to the fascinating daily occurrences around the corner at PelekaneBeach. One evening around a BBQ we got speaking to a local native Hawaiian manand his wife. The subject of sharks (a common topic amongst us surfers) came up inconversation. He immediately informed us that we were almost certain to see sharks inthe shallow waters just around the corner at Pelekane Beach, below Pu’ukohola Heiau(temple) National Historic Site.He continued to tell us that sharks play an important role in traditional Hawaiian cultureand are believed to be ‘aumakua’ or ancestral spirits. He, as do many, believed thatsharks come into the bay because of Hale O Kapuni Heiau, a temple dedicated to theshark god, Kauhuhu. In the past, human sacrifices, offerings and gifts were made hereto the sharks in return for good weather, plentiful fish and protection. The Heiau is nowsubmerged about thirty metres from the shore due to modern developments further upthe coast.Since he could remember, sharks had visited here on a daily basis, with the best timeto see these Blacktip, Whitetip Reef, Grey Reef, hammerhead and occasional TigerSharks being early morning or evenings. So with no further ado we set off with ourtorch in hand, a little concerned I must add, as we had been swimming all day off thepopular beach neighbouring this apparently ‘sharky’ bay. It was an incredible sight andin an instant, in the beam of the light, cruising around the shallow murky waters, wereseveral Blacktip and Whitetip Reef Sharks, just as he had described. I was completelyblown away!We returned on several occasions over the next month, never failing to capture theamazing sight of these sharks. It has been said that as many as twenty-six have beenspotted here at once. Whatever you believe, I can assure you that it is difficult to walkaway from this extremely fascinating and unique spot not convinced that these amazingcreatures have a spiritual connection with Pelekane Beach and the submerged Hale OKapuni Heiau.If only international governments and fisheries could take greater notice of traditionalHawaiian beliefs, people could learn to respect, rather than fear these beautifulcreatures. This would lead to the realisation that healthy shark populations in factcontribute to plentiful fish stocks, and perhaps even reduce the likelihood of sharksmistakenly biting humans in search of food. By managing the ocean’s resourcessustainably we would all be better off in the long term – you never know, it may evenbring us some good weather!AlohaSite of Hale o Kapuni Heiau, Pu’ukohala Heiau National Historic Site, Hawai’i.© Ken Lund.Oceanic Whitetip SharkThis species is easily recognised by itslarge rounded dorsal fin and longpaddle-like pectoral fins –all of which have white tips.A huge number ofOceanic Whitetip Sharks arecaught each year. But the good news is that, at the 2013 CITESconference in Thailand, governments from around the world agreedto a list of rules for trading and selling Oceanic Whitetips – a hugestep forward for the conservation of this species!Drawing by Samantha Young.Whitetip Reef SharkStephen Cook from Diss, Norfolk, wrote to the Shark Trust:Dear all at Shark Trust,My name is Stephen Cook and I am 10 years old, I have loved sharks since I was7 and can’t bear the see them die the way they do. I have drawn you a pictureof Blacktip Reef Sharks and a beautiful coral reef. When I’m older I want to be amarine biologist so I can see all of the marine life, especially sharks. I have beensnorkelling in the Red Sea and saw stingrays, groupers, minnows, clown fish anda barracuda. Mum and Dad have been to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean andsaw Blacktips, Whitetips, Hammerheads, Manta Rays and puffer fish.I do scuba diving and I am a PADI Seal and I’m nearly a PADI Master Seal.I’m going for my open water dive in September. At school I’m reading a veryinteresting book called ‘Sharks in British Waters’. I am also trying to get the HeadTeacher, Mr Carlyle, involved in the Great Eggcase Hunt.My parents are extremely supportive to me. I hope to have a great futurewith the sharks and to stop the killing of them because it is sickening. If there isanything I/we can do to help please let me know.Yours sincerelyStephen12 www.sharktrust.org/members Shark Focus 47 Shark Focus 47 www.sharktrust.org/juniors 13