SharkFocus

CAMPAIGN CORNERSharks are vulnerable to a wide range of issues from fisheries pressure and sharkfinning, to habitat loss and the curio trade, and it is the need to address theseissues that drives the campaign activity of the Shark Trust. Now there is moreopportunity than ever for you to get involved. Visit the campaign section of thewebsite and make use of the Campaign Toolkits and information provided. Asalways, we want to hear about issues that concern you. Here is some of the latestcampaign news:Cites – good news and bad news…The 14th Conference of Parties for the Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species was held in the Netherlands in June. The Shark Trust lobbiedthe UK Government to champion the proposed species and worked to supportShark Alliance colleagues who were on the ground actively lobbying memberstates to adopt listings for Sawfish, Spiny Dogfish and Porbeagle.Good News! Sawfish proposal adopted under Appendix IThe proposal submitted by Kenya and the USA to list all species of sawfish (FamilyPristidae) on CITES Appendix I, reserved for species threatened with extinction,received a sufficient percentage of the Committee vote and was successfullyadopted. Sawfish are considered to be Critically Endangered throughout theworld, and protection under CITES will aid conservation efforts by restrictinginternational trade in valuable fins and saw-like rostra.Bad News...EU proposals to list Spiny Dogfish and Porbeagle sharks under CITES Appendix IIwere considered. However, both proposals were narrowly defeated on June 8thin a vote by CITES parties, and although the proposal to list Spiny Dogfish wasreconsidered during the plenary session on June 15th, it did not receive the twothirdsmajority vote required and so was not adopted.Many countries opposing the EU CITES listing proposals for sharks expressedconcern over the lack of shark fishery management in European waters, inparticular that EU Spiny Dogfish quotas are out of line with the scientific advicefor no fishing. Unfortunately these domestic failings were used as a reason tovote against the listings, preventing the implementation of global action.HousekeepingStanding ordersMany of our members pay their subscription by standing order. Unfortunatelythese standing orders require updating as subscription fees change. Standingsorders paid at the wrong rate cost the Shark Trust a substantial amount each year.Unfortunately we cannot amend your mandates so please check with your bank toensure you are paying the correct rate.Shopping with the TrustPayment Card Industry (PCI) data security standards have been adopted by theShark Trust to protect people from credit card fraud. As a result all credit cardtransactions must be done through the website, which adheres to PCI standards, orin person at the Shark Trust Office.Gift AidMany thanks to those of you who returned you Gift Aid forms inserted into the lastedition of Shark Focus. If you are a tax payer and are yet to complete a form pleasecontact the office for details. Please help us make the most of your membership.If you have any questions regarding memberships, donations, adoptions, sales orfinance administration please feel free to contact Glenys Heafield on 01752 672008or glenys@sharktrust.org.Shark Finning:Copyright Dave Gibson/The DeepFins on – the only way. A new scientific report publishedin May concludes that the EU ban on shark finningis not effective. “Strengthening European FisheriesManagement: Options for Enforcing the Shark FinningBan” is the culmination of an expert workshop examiningEuropean shark fisheries, trade and markets with a focuson means to enforce the EU’s shark finning ban.The report describes the current enforcement approachof applying a ‘fin to carcass weight ratio’ as complicatedand inadequate, and recommends landing sharks withtheir fins still attached as the best method for preventingfinning. The latter approach was also heralded for itspotential to improve sorely needed information on thetypes of sharks being taken. The report also highlightsthat the current regulation is further weakened by theability for vessels to land shark fins and bodies separatelyin different ports.The Lenfest-sponsored summary report can bedownloaded from the publications section of the SharkAlliance website (www.sharkalliance.org).Campaigns in brief:The Shark Trust has worked with Seafish and the Skateand Ray Processors Association to create identificationguides to aid fishermen in accurately recording theircatches.Working with the Shark Alliance, the Shark Trust haslaunched a Europe-wide Aquarium Awarenesscampaign. Visit the website to learn more and sign theonline petition.Following a recent review, ten additional species of sharks,skates and rays join the Basking Shark and CommonSkate as Biodiversity Action Plan species.The Shark Trust4 Creykes Court, The Millfields, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 3JBTel: (+44) (0) 1752 672008/672020Fax: (+44) (0) 1752 672008Email: enquiries@sharktrust.orgWebsite: http://www.sharktrust.orgSharkFocusIssue 29 July‐ 2007Contents3 Editorial4 Seeing Sharks Afresh5 Bull Sharks6 Shark Trust News and Projects8 Member’s pages10 Sharks for Ever11 Tagging Tigers12 Graceful Wings of the Sea14 Website and EEA news15 Steve Roest and Reef JewelleryEdited by the Shark Trust©Shark Trust 2007Supporting theEuropean Elasmobranch AssociationShark Focus is published three times a year in March, July and November. Copy date forthe next issue is 30th September 2007. Shark Focus is copyrighted and therefore thosewishing to reproduce articles must first contact the Shark Trust. The views and opinionsexpressed by the authors in Shark Focus are not necessarily those of the Shark Trust.Established in 1997, the Shark Trust promotes the study, managementand conservation of sharks, skates and rays. The Trust is the UK memberof the European Elasmobranch Association and currently provides theEEA’s secretariat services.Trustees: Richard Peirce (Chair), Grant Bates, George Bowser,Marc Dando, Sarah Fowler OBE, Louise Johnson,John Nightingale, Steve Roest and Colin SpeediePatrons: Nick Baker, John Boyle, Leonard Compagno, Bob Earll,Bernard Eaton, Ian Fergusson, Mariella Frostrup, Loyd Grossman,John Gummer MP, Monty Halls, Martha Holmes, Kate Humble,Sir David Jason OBE, Simon Rogerson, Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch,Michaela Strachan and Ron and Valerie TaylorRegistered Company No. 3396164. Registered Charity No. 1064185.The Shark Trust and the European Elasmobranch Association are supported bythe Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Scottish Natural Heritage, English Nature,Countryside Council for Wales, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK) andProjectAWARE.Design: Fluke Art.Cover image: Lemon Shark by Simon RogersonEDITORIALThe last issue announced the shark photo competition which will beone of the main events marking our 10th anniversary year. “Sharks inFocus” is open to all photographers and we hope the four categorieswill present opportunities for everyone. Our thanks to BarefootTraveller, Eurodiver, Suunto, Mares, Tony Backhurst, AP Valves, OThree, Fuji and Ocean Optics for donating such fabulous valuablecompetition prizes.It was wonderful to meet so many members at the London DiveShow and a huge well done to the Regional Secretaries for recruiting alarge number of new supporters.The Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood have been very generousin their support for our gala evening on November 17th, which hasenabled us to plan an event-packed Black Tie ball with dancing to alive band. Details of the Ball and how to book tickets appear on theinsert within this issue and I hope we will see lots of you there.Some of you may be aware that the Porbeagle is an animal close tomy heart and I had really hoped that this, our tenth year, would seethis shark gain the CITES protection it so badly needs. Sadly this didnot happen at the recent conference and so we will all have to keepplugging away for both the Porbeagle and the Spiny Dogfish.I am lucky because my office window is 150 yards from the Atlanticand I have, with the help of binoculars, seen Basker fins and Porbeaglesbeing caught and released while sitting at my desk. This year bothspecies were here in numbers at the beginning of June which isearlier than I can ever remember. Let’s hope we are in for a summer ofmaximum sharks and minimum media shark sensation.Monty Halls has now become a Patron instead of a Trustee and ournew Trustee is Steve Roest, who is introduced on page 15. WelcomeSteve.Sharks remain under enormous, often unsustainable, pressure allover the world. I truly believe that the next decade will be make orbreak for many species, not only do we want there to still be a SharkTrust in ten years time, but more importantly we want there to still be2Photo on this page of a Basking Shark by Sally Sharrock.SharkFocus 29 SharkFocus 29 3sharks!Richard PeirceChairman

Seeing Sharks AfreshBull SharksThe Bull Shark - known as the Zambezi Shark in South Africa - has one of the worstreputations of any shark. Growing to well over three metres in length the species is in thetop three of suspects in terms of attacks on humans.Bull sharks often lurk in murky inshore waters and will even swim up rivers. This is theclassic generalist predator: it grows large and eats just about anything.Jeremy Stafford-DeitschAuthor, photographer andShark Trust patronNowadays, there are fewer composers, fewer authors, fewer varieties ofrum punch and – dare I say it – fewer shark photos that do it for me. Why?I like to think it’s because I’m growing increasingly refined rather thanincreasingly middle aged. Here’s the paradox: it’s the sharks with thebattleship silhouette (Tiger Sharks) as well as the Ferraris of the shark world(makos) and the ICBMs (Great Whites), not to mention the materialisingextraterrestrials (schooling hammerheads) and convoy destroyers (GreyReef Sharks), the back alley bruisers in the wrong part of town (bull sharks)and blue water ghosts (Oceanic Whitetips), that get my attention. Thereason is obvious: these are the consummate scene-stealers: think of ClintEastwood in Escape from Alcatraz, Steve McQueen leaping barbed wireon his motorbike in The Great Escape, or Paris Hilton walking out of LosAngeles County Jail in a mere three days.John BoyleFilm maker andShark Trust patronWhen was the last time a diver’s attention wandered from an approachingtiger shark as drab and battered as a rusty Buick to a particularly pristinesea fan? And that’s the point. Perhaps there is something to the aquaticape hypothesis after all: the visceral terror of being devoured just won’t goaway. (The other side of the coin is the daftness for dolphins.)So how to photograph mermaid-chasing beasts that supposedly munchedon Homo aquaticus? There is so much archetypal baggage and – if thephoto is any good - it shines through: show us the teeth! Here I must waxphilosophical. A few hundred years B.C. (Before Celebrity) philosopherswere much concerned with the notion of the sublime. Although no twophilosophers appear ever to have had the same idea of what the sublime is, Ithink if they had all been forced to sit through a Britney Spears concert theywould have been united in their understanding of what the sublime isn’t.In one sense, the sublime takes us to the edge and terror is a component:terror of mortality. Encounters with ‘maneating’ sharks is, in the modernworld of ‘Have a nice day’, disposable diapers and double yellow lines, asnear as we can get. This returns me to the question of how to photographsharks. What if we take a step back from the precipice? What if we allow thefear to inform rather than dictate our response to the photograph? In otherwords, what if we try to see sharks afresh?Before it closed, Walkers Cay was a tiny Bahamian island that seemedright out of a James Bond film. You could walk round it in 10 minutes.Dozens of Bull Sharks gathered off the island in the winter monthsonly to vanish with spring. Why they came was something of a mysterythough satellite tagging subsequently showed that some of themswam across the Gulf Stream to Florida when the water warmed up.An ideal opportunity to get stock images of a very difficult shark tofilm? That’s what Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch thought, so I joined him tosee if it could be done.In the bar the night before, generous rum punches boosted mycourage, but the next morning dawned windy and cold, and when Isaw large dorsal fins cutting through the shallow water, snorkellingwith the sharks didn’t seem such a great idea.The sharks were hefty and up to about 2 1/2 metres long. They allseemed to be in perfect condition. Jeremy advised sensible precautions:any patches of pale skin that could be mistaken for food were coveredwith black gloves, boots and hoods.But that didn’t seem like much protection against the sharks as wewaded into the knee-high water, then submerged our heads below thesurface and clung to a rock to peer at them.After initially checking us out the sharks virtually ignored us and justcarried on cruising. Occasionally, they would glide in close and evensneak up behind you - but this was just curiosity. Make eye contact orpoint your camera at them and they would turn away.Our confidence grew over the next few days. Soon the problem wasgetting close enough to the sharks to get a good film sequence.Jeremy’s answer was to feed them. This went against every grain ofcommon sense - but it worked - though the first time that I was in thewater filming, with Jeremy standing on the shore throwing fish scrapsto land just in front of my camera, I wasn’t too sure! The sharks learntfast - soon all you had to do was slap the water surface and sharks wouldcome from all directions, thinking food had just been thrown in.As time went on we got to know the sharks and their ways. SeeingJeremy finning fast to try to get a shot, totally unaware of two bigsharks inches behind his fins, taught me that moving fast through thewater created an aura of panic that aroused their interest and so wasprobably not a good idea!During our time, we never got over-confident with them. Althoughwe were only snorkelling in shallow water, I could never stay in formore than an hour at a time: the adrenaline-induced tension was sogreat that I would be exhausted and need to get ashore to relax beforegetting back in with them again.I got some amazing footage during that stay and learnt a respect andaffection for those magnificent sharks.With the island now closed, the magnificent Bull Sharks areunprotected and their future is uncertain. Rumours abound that manyhave fallen victim to fishermen.4 SharkFocus 29 SharkFocus 29 5

NEWSThe Shark Trust Regional Secretary programme is now in full swingand our volunteer RS’s are delivering talks and presentationsaround the country; they are helping raise awareness of sharkconservation issues and also bringing in new members.The scheme is proving very popular with dive schools,businesses and colleges and we are keen to promote and expandthis even further.If you know a group or company that might like to host a talkfrom one of the Regional Secretaries, or perhaps an event thatmight benefit from our presence,please contact Steve on 01752 672008 or steveroest@sharktrust.RS’s success around the countryCongratulations to all our hard-working RS’s. The RegionalSecretaries have been giving talks to dive schools, colleges andbusinesses all over the UK. The feedback has been great.RS’s who have supported the Shark Trust include Bryony Stockingat the Bristol Nature Festival, Gareth Ellis at BBC Breathing Space,and Mark Sanders-Barwick, Cheryl Sayle and Mark Boothmanat the Leamington Music Festival. All these events were a greatsuccess, gaining new members, donations and raising awarenessfor our cause.We are continuing to improve our representation at nationalevents and gaining support from business. Mark Sanders-Barwickand Cheryl Sayle have been particularly successful in establishingcommercial relationships.We have great national coverage of RS’s with strong centresin London, Manchester and Bristol but we would really like togain a few more in the South West of England particularly inDevon and Cornwall. For more information on any aspect ofthe RS programme please contact Steve on 01752 672008 orsteveroest@sharktrust.orgLeft: Bryony Stocking and Lisa at theBristol Nature Festival.Below: Cheryl Sayle, Mark Boothmanand Mark Sanders-Barwick at theLeamington Music Festival.FEBRUARY 2007More oceanic sharks added to the IUCN Red List, 27 February- Expertfindings show even the fastest, widest ranging sharks are threatened byoverfishing as more species added to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.MARCH 2007Mexico Passes Shark Finning Ban, 06 March- The Mexican governmenthas published sweeping new regulations and protections for sharks, includinga shark finning ban, an extension of the moratorium on new commercial sharkfishing permits, and extensive protections for Great White Sharks, Whale Sharks,Basking Sharks and manta rays.Threats to Migratory Sharks Highlighted, 19 March- The Shark Alliancehighlights the conclusion by the Scientific Council of the Convention onMigratory Species (CMS) that 35 species of migratory sharks and rays consideredThreatened by the IUCN, also meet the criteria for listing under CMS.Marine bill to ‘protect UK seas’, 20 March- The government has launched itslong-awaited Marine Bill which aims to protect Britain’s seas and marine life.APRIL 2007Study Finds Shark Overfishing May Lower Scallop Population, 02 April -Humans have devoured so many of the oceans’ top predators that it has rattledthe length of the marine food chain, according to a study published in the journalScience. Researchers have found a depletion of sharks has left more of their preyin the ocean to feed on scallops.Oceanário reintroduces Manta ray back to its natural habitat, 23 April- TheOceanário reintroduced a large Manta birostris back to its natural habitat last April12. The Manta was Southwest of Lisbon, where this species occurs occasionally.DNA Testing Reveals Continued, Illegal Trade In Fins Of EndangeredBasking Sharks, 24 April - Despite regulations by some countries to protectthe Basking Shark from further population declines, a new study reports that theworld’s second largest fish is still being killed for its high-priced fins.MAY 2007Experts advise trade restrictions for threatened sharks, 04 May - The SharkAlliance welcomes the recommendation by the Secretariat for the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) that member countriesadopt proposals from the European Union to restrict international trade in SpinyDogfish and Porbeagle Sharks.Captive shark had “virgin birth” , 23 May - Female hammerhead sharks canreproduce without having sex, scientists confirm. The evidence comes from ashark at Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska which gave birth to a pup in 2001 despitehaving had no contact with a male.JUNE 2007WORLD SHARKNEWSNews since last focusShark Cartilage, Not a Cancer Therapy , 04 June - CHICAGO, June 2; Sharkcartilage, a widely used alternative therapy for cancer, did not help patients withlung cancer live longer, according to the results of one of the first rigorous studiesof the approach.Call to ban shark finning at sea, 04 June - Fisheries should be bannedfrom cutting fins off sharks while still at sea, to stem a dramatic decline in theirpopulations, scientists and conservationists warned yesterday. The move wouldclose a loophole which allows unscrupulous fisheries to practise unlawful finning.Sharks defeated at UN wildlife trade talks , 08 June - A United Nations forumon endangered species rejected bids on Friday to put in place controls on themulti-million dollar trade in Spiny Dogfish and Porbeagle Sharks, highly prizedfor their meat and fins.Sawfish protection acquires teeth, 11 June- Nations have agreed to baninternational trade in one of the world’s most remarkable fish. At the CITESmeeting, delegates approved a bid to end the sawfish trade.Caution urged to protect sharks , 12 June - The Shark Trust has issued a newcode of conduct for people at sea after several cases of sharks being badly hurt offthe South West coast. Featured on the BBC, the Trust warned that boat propellersand personal water craft could inflict severe damage to fins and bodies, andasked boat users to act responsibly if they see any sharks.Shark Trust projectsEducation, education, education!Who says education can’t be fun? Now that summer is here, in nameat least, The Shark Trust has been out on tour with our interactiveeducational roadshow.May Bank Holiday saw the Trust down on Plymouth Hoe as part ofthe celebrations welcoming the Gypsy Moth IV back into Plymouth.Alongside the shark puppets and mobile strandline we also createdthese fabulous Basking Shark collages out of old Basking Shark leafletsand posters.The Shark Trust celebrated World Oceans Day at the fantastic BluePlanet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port and had a great time talking sharkand looking at the great diversity of sharks and rays they have at theaquarium.During Wales Biodiversity Week the Trust once again embarked ona successful tour of Wales visiting five schools in five days talking toyoung people about elasmobranchs, the environment and what wecan do to help protect both of them – many thanks to the schoolsvisited for being so accommodating!The Shark Trust strongly believes in the power that education has toimprove an individual’s understanding of the world around them. Thissaid, we are very proud to unveil our brand new Shark Trust educationalresources. Available to download from www.sharktrust.org >>>>Education there are pages of curriculum linked worksheets, notes foreducators, creative activities, puzzles, educational games, factsheets,picture and vocab cards – all for free!If you have any comments or would like to contribute more resourcesthen please get in touch via enquiries@sharktrust.org, we lookforward to hearing from you!Above: Wales Biodiversity Week educational roadshow.Below: Basking Shark collage at the return of the Gypsy Moth IV, Plymouth.Identification & Recording SchemesNew ResourcesThis year has seen a lot of work improving and promoting the Shark Trust’s awareness and identification guides. We now have brandnew Great Eggcase Hunt and British Skates and Rays ID guides (with reporting form), Basking Shark Code of Conduct and a SharksEndangered leaflet. All of these are available from the Shark Trust office – contact enquiries@sharktrust.org for more details.Photo-IDThanks to every one of you who has sent in their photo-identification pictures and sighting information of Basking and WhaleSharks, please keep them coming in. We are now in the final testing phase of the new database to house these records online andvery soon you will be able to see each sighting through the Shark Trust website.This will give us the ability to make 6 years worth of data available and accessible to researchers everywhere and means we willalso be able to further the aims of the Whale and Basking Shark projects by analysing the data and reporting the outcomes withingeneral interest and scientific literature.Anthropogenic ImpactsWe have also launched a new campaign encouraging members of the public to record instances of man made impacts or strandingsof Basking Sharks. Net scars, propeller injuries and rope entanglement are all having a negative effect on Basking Sharks which theShark Trust is attempting to quantify. Please record all pictures or stranding details through the Basking Shark websitewww.baskingsharks.org >>>> Record Sightings to help us work towards reducing these negative interactions.Angling ReportsThe new database will also have the capacity to take angling reports and so if you are a keen shark, skate or ray angler – or knowsomeone who is – then please keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the database on the Shark Trust website. Currently, reportforms can be downloaded from the Great Eggcase Hunt website www.eggcase.org >>>> Skates and Rays or can be found on theback of the British Skates and Rays identification leaflet. If you are interested in tagging programmes for sharks, skates and raysplease contact the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain (www.sharkanglingclubofgreatbritain.org.uk) or the UK Shark TaggingProgramme (www.ukshark.co.uk).6 SharkFocus 29 SharkFocus 29 7

Shark Champion’sMEMBER’S pagesMY SHARK WALK by Cecily Drey (age 10)Shark through a lensPaul Martin, Pictures IncThe popularity of underwater photography has increased significantly since thebeginning of the digital age. It is getting cheaper to use compact digital camerasin housings in the underwater world. Shark photography seems to have its owncategory, as photographing a shark doesnt only require good camera knowledgeand competent use of scuba equipment, but also research, patience and skill.There are three scenarios in shark diving; chance meetings, baited dives anddiving in shark hot spots. Given that chance meetings are totally inexpected andsharks can appear and disappear within a couple of seconds, your best chance iswhen you stumble across a more sedentiary variety such as the bottom-dwellingshark like a Zebra Shark or a Whitetip Reef Shark. A large degree of luck is neededfor a chance meeting.Synchronized swimming TigersAndy CollsDiving in shark hotspots, you have an idea of what species frequent the area.The Port Jackson pup (left) was one of hundreds in a specific location wherethey congregate every year for a short period of time. This particular divewas planned well in advance and I had researched the likely behaviour ofthe sharks. Knowing they are very approachable and likely just to be sittingon the bottom and that they are no longer than a foot long, I decided touse the macro setting on my camera with the aim being to get as closeas possible. I had an idea of how I wanted the shot to look. I was trying tocapture texture, not colour. At only 12 meters deep, there was enough lightto illuminate my pup but not enough to show the true colour (red is the firstin the spectrum to go). I did not want to use a flash as I was (and still am)unsure of how that would affect the pup’s eyes close up. The end result wasa magnified black and white close up.The ‘Patrolling Blacktip’ was one of many Blacktips that surrounded me onthat particular dive. I metered to get an accurate exposure for the background.Setting the shutter speed to 1/125 second (important with moving subjectsas slower shutter speeds result in motion blur), I set the aperture for correctexposure. Then I just waited for the many sharks to pass by and fired myshot when the frame was appropriately filled. Quickly inspecting the shoton my screen, I could get an idea of the exposure on the shark’s body andaltered the power on the strobe until I got it right. The measurements on theYS90 strobe are shown in f stops. I tend to under-expose by one notch justto avoid burning out the highlights on the shark’s white belly. As I had onestrobe on the left side of my camera, I needed a shark passing from right toleft to illuminate the front and underneath of its body.In underwater photography, a healthy respect for the environment andsubject must always be kept. Hounding sharks will always scare them off andthe best results often occur when a shark checks you out.To check out these pictures and others as limited edition art prints onPaul’s website, www.picturesinc.co.uk/sharks. The Shark Trust receives agenerous donation from the sale of every print.Diving with Jim Abernethey’s ScubaAdventures at Tiger Beach in theBahamas, Easter 2006, probably oneof the best sites in the world to getclose to sharks without a cage. It wasour last dive of the week after 3 daysin the area and during the dive wesaw 7 different female Tiger Sharks.As the dive went on it got busierand busier until there were 5 TigerSharks all within sight, togetherwith numerous Lemon Sharks. Theybegan to get bolder and bolderto the point where 2 Tiger Sharksbumped each other very close toJim, who had the bait crate. Thephoto illustrates the reaction ofthe Tigers, who proceeded to swimparallel to each other for about 15meters before they turned awayfrom each other. Needless to sayI was the last person back on theboat. An awesome experience.On Tuesday May 29th I walked ten miles from Torcross toDartmouth along the Southwest Coast Path, to raise moneyfor the Shark Trust. I really enjoyed the walk (I usually hatewalking!) and I saw lots of amazing views along the way,across the sea. There were lots of foxgloves (all of themwere purple) all over the place and we saw birds’ eggs andinteresting flowers at the Slapton Nature Reserve.The walk took about 4 hours, but we did wait in the icecream queue at Blackpool Sands for an hour! I wasn’t tired atall at the end, I just felt happy to have completed the walk.I have managed to raise about £550, from my friendsand family. The headmaster at my school talked about mywalk in assembly, and lots of teachers and friends at schoolsponsored me too.I am really thrilled to have raised so much money to helpsharks stay around for a bit longer!I’M SHARK CRAZY by Kyra (age 9)It was my birthday on 12th May, I was nine andthat’s when I raised the money. This is how I didit: My birthday was a shark theme, and instead ofgetting presents I asked for money for the sharks.The party was great! And in the end I raised £105. Ihope it helps the sharks a lot.Love from KyraBLUE PETER LETTERS Charlie McKenzie-Dawes Shark ClubDear AliI am a big believer in helping sharks. My friends and I areholding a sponsorship day party to raise money for sharks. I didnot know who to help them until I heard about the Shark Trust.We arranged at school a shark club called Who Wants tobe a Shark Air. We have a poster person, a quizmaster, and anorganiser, which is me.We are arranging a day in the Easter holidays so that we canhave a day of fun to raise money. When we have had this day I willsend you some photos. For now I will send you a photo of myselfso you know who I am. Sorry it’s my James Bond photo it’s thelatest one I have.FromCharlie McKenzie DawesAge 10Dear Blue PeterHi my name is David Brown I will be 11 years old on the 30 thMarch and I go to St Michaels School in Welling.I am very interested in the well being of sharks because I wouldhate to think that they ever became extinct at any time. I fearthat too many of them get killed because people are so frightenedof them which could be due to lack of information about them.Long live the Sharks!David BrownThe Shark Club had such a successful daythat they decided to write to Blue Peterto see if all their hard work would qualifythem for a Blue Peter Badge.These are some of their letters:Dear Blue PeterHi. My name is Charlie and I am 10 years old. I go to St. Michaels Schooland myself and a few of my friends formed a ‘Shark Club’. In the SharkClub we try to protect sharks and help them. My personal reason forhelping to form the Shark Club is because being a vegetarian. I believethat sharks should not be killed just for money, so I hope we save manysharks lives as we have already done for to sharks.Yours sincerelyCharlie Moore8 Send your stories to enquiries@sharktrust.org SharkFocus 29 SharkFocus 29 9

Sharks for EverTagging TigersI recently found myself on safari taking photographsof zebra and giraffes, and was struck by how easyit was compared to underwater photography. Lightis plentiful, you’re sitting in a comfortable gamevehicle and if the animal wants to keep its distance,you simply reach for a longer lens.God, it was dull.Photographing sharks, by contrast is all about discomfort, inconvenienceand frustration, and I love it. Most sharks don’t even like being seen,let alone photographed. For a predator, there must be somethingdisconcerting about enthusiastic, bubble-spewing animals that charge atyou whenever eye contact is made. Hence, when most divers see sharks, itis from a distance and the view is that of a retreating tail fin.Shark photographer and editor ofDIVE magazineSimon Rogersonhas spent the past 15 years in searchof elasmobranchs.John NightingaleAuthor, photographer andShark Trust patronUnderwater photography is based largely on proximity – one of the goldenrules is to get as close to the subject as possible. So with sharks this meanseither luck or bait. The former is always welcome, but in an age when sharkpopulations are thinning out, it can pay dividends to issue an invitationin the form of bait. I realise this is a controversial method, but instead ofexhuming the whole debate, I will make three points:1. I subscribe to the recommendations set out in the Shark Trust’s owndirective on use of bait2. There is no scientific evidence that feeding sharks changes theirpredatory behaviour3. Given the various awful things people do to sharks, is handing outa free meal really all that bad?In fact, a good 80 per cent of the shark pictures you see in magazines(including this one) will have been taken using bait of some sort. For mostsharks, it is the only reliable means of obtaining clear images that show theanimal in all its glory.Why do I enjoy photographing sharks? Well, aside from the challenge ofapproaching wild animals in their own habitat, I think there is a generalpoint to be made about predators and grazers here. On land, predatoryanimals such as eagles, Leopards and crocodiles have a pointed design ethic– these are nature’s weapons, and they lend themselves to a dramatic viewof the wild world. Put simply, Tigers are more interesting than cows, and thesame goes for Tiger Sharks, and when something has been designed for avery specific purpose, its look is all the more unique (think ‘hammerhead’or ‘sawfish’).So much for aesthetics. If you want to photograph sharks, start offin the Red Sea or the Bahamas, then try South Africa or Australia beforeprogressing to the big seamounts of the Eastern Pacific (Cocos, Malpelo,Galapagos). In fact, there are shark species present at almost every divedestination, so don’t forget to seek out Zebra or Variegated Sharks inThailand, Port Jackson sharks in New South Wales or angel sharks inCalifornia or the Canary Islands.People often ask me if I’ve been attacked, and the honest answer is ‘no’.Once, a baby Reef White-tip went insane and tried to get at me, but it wasso very small that I could thwart it simply by using my camera as a block. Isuspect its abnormal behaviour was provoked by electric waves emittingfrom my flash unit; larger sharks have also been drawn to nose or evennibble the flash, but they always back off once they’re satisfied it is notedible. Silky Sharks have followed me closely on two occasions when I wasblown off a seamount and spent a long time waiting to be picked up, but onboth occasions their behaviour stopped short of being actively aggressive.I have had great fun diving with Tiger Sharks recently, in South Africaand the northern Bahamas, but when there’s bait in the water, Tigers aretoo easy. My favourite shark (this week) is the terminally uncooperativeScalloped Hammerhead, a shark with a sensory system so advanced thatscuba bubbles send it fleeing; the mere glimpse of a diver appears tomortify this sensitive shark. Earlier this year, in the northern Galapagos,I came across dense school swimming over a deep sand plateau on someunknown mission. The school parted as I approached, yet it was thicker andcomprised more sharks than any aggregation I have seen before or since.My memory of this fleeting event is still vivid, and I take comfort that suchthings can still be seen in this age of abuse and decay.For me, the shark remains a symbol of wildness and enduring nature;whatever happens in the next few decades, it is my belief that sharks willmake a comeback long after the human race has slurped its last bowl ofsoup.Earlier this year I got the chance to spend some time at theBimini Shark Lab in the Bahamas, run by the legendary sharkscientist ‘Doc’ Gruber. If you are a shark nut Bimini is anextraordinary place to be. The Doc has worked with sharks allhis life, doing much of the basic research on shark behaviourand sensory physiology. In 1990 he started the Shark Lab andhas been studying sharks in the field ever since.Because there are such huge gaps in our knowledge ofsharks, baseline data on population numbers, behaviouretc is absolutely vital if we are to make a credible case togovernments to persuade them to give protection to sharks.While anecdotal evidence of the decline in shark numbersis abundant, incontrovertible data is a great deal harder tocome by.In the week I was at Bimini we had close encounters withdozens of sharks from little juvenile Lemons, sleepy NurseSharks dozing among the mangrove roots, Caribbean Reef andBlacknose Sharks going crazy because they could smell foodin the water and a female Bull Shark covered in mating scars;my personal favourites were definitely the Tiger Sharks.The photo below is of a Tiger Shark that the lab had justtagged. Different shark species respond in very different waysto being held while being tagged and Tiger Sharks generallygo quiet when restrained. As soon as the work of measuringand tagging is done and all hands are out of the way, the sharkis quickly released. Normally it is freed from the front first and,as the shark turns away from the boat, the tail rope is slippedoff.With Tiger Sharks it is common for them then to lie on the bottom for amoment before they take off. The shark is watched closely from the surfaceand if it doesn’t start to move soon enough somebody will quickly gooverboard, swim down to it and give it a push from behind. That bumpstart is invariably enough to snap it awake and off it will swim. In this casethe shark gave me just enough time to come up close to take this picture,below, before it took off past me, heading back to open sea.It was wonderful to be among people with such a huge knowledgeof sharks and Doc Gruber is certainly an inspiring figure. This type ofresearch provides the backbone on which all conservation efforts are builtand for me it was great to be photographing people working with suchdedication, knowing that the work they are doing is contributing both toour knowledge of sharks and helping to bring forward the day when sharkand ray populations are once again on the increase.10 SharkFocus 29 SharkFocus 29 11

Graceful Wings of the SeaThere is no greater beauty to behold than the serene flight of a Mantathrough the azure blue of a tropical sea. Effortless and graceful, the mantagives a downward stroke of its dark cape and parts the water in its questfor food. Surveying its surroundings it then glides over the reef, silentand curious. Its wingtips curl ever so slightly upwards, almost like thetea-drinker’s upraised pinky. Slowly, the Manta swings around and givesanother beat of its wings. Still in the water, I await its approach. I have acamera ready but as I look into its eye, I am mesmerised and cannot takea single picture. We swim alongside each other and stare at one another.I am transfixed. What is he thinking? ”...My what a bizarre creature thatis…it’s black and white like me but what skinny wings and it’s awfullyslow…”. Whatever he is thinking there is no doubt that he is pondering thisencounter and that I am accompanying a very intelligent animal. As I growtired of finning, he slows down and hovers until I catch up. We swim togetherfor what feels like an eternity that I hope will never end. I wish to remainlonger but sadly, I lack a good set of gills. That encounter galvanized meto better understand these fascinating and little known animals. Followingour duet swim, the young manta stayed near our boat for over two hours,circling the reef below and occasionally rising to the surface. He came backseveral times during the night and then disappeared into the blue. Howdid I know this? Because he was sporting a small acoustic transmitting tagthat “talked” to a submerged receiver when he was visiting the area. Thesite that this manta occasionally calls home is a coral reef that forms partof the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). Located110 miles offshore of the Texas and Louisiana state border in the Gulf ofMexico, the Flower Garden Banks comprises three underwater features,similar to seamounts, two of which are submerged salt dome overlaid withup to 90% coral cover. These banks are a haven for many elasmobranchand teleost species. This research represents the first study of a Mantapopulation and their movement behaviour in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbeanor Atlantic basins. Using photo identification of the unique patterns ofspots on the manta’s belly, Emma Hickerson, Research Coordinator for theFGBNMS and I have identified at least 32 individuals who use the site. Thissame method enables us to confirm the return of several individuals tothe Flower Garden Banks between years and coupled with data from ouracoustic receiver array, we have now confirmed Manta movements andhence connectivity between the sanctuary’s three banks. Knowledge ofManta visitation in relation to biological and physical characteristics suchas primary productivity, temperature, salinity as well as anthropogenicpressures will help FGBNMS managers to assess the effectiveness of thebanks in protecting them throughout their life cycle. In the meantime whileI sit at my computer and review data collected to date, I secretly hope foranother illuminating encounter with my favorite Manta…Inset by Dan Castellanos.Top: a tagged Manta nearly above anacoustic receiver by Emma Hickersonand below: Manta with Remora andSharksucker by Kaile Tsapis.Dr. Rachel GrahamAssociate Conservation ScientistWildlife Conservation Society, Belize.A Shark’s Tailin search of the elusive thresherThe entire reason Malapascua in the Philippines should loom large in anydivers itinerary lurks off the steep sides of Monad Shoal, an undersea mountainseveral kilometers off it’s coast. This is the Thresher Shark capital of the world,there are very few divers who see the rare and elusive Thresher Shark in alifetime’s exploration of the oceans. The steep sides of Monad Shoal are thehome of this mysterious shark, and every morning they spiral up out of thedarkness to visit the cleaning stations that dot the lip of this undersea cliff.The silhouette on the Thresher is one of the most unmistakable of anyanimal in the sea, a giant scimitar tail pushing a compact body through thewater in a series of gentle undulations. This extraordinary tail drives theshark forwards, with great sweeping pectoral fins trimming the body in thehorizontal plane, an elegant piece of design testimony to millions of years ofevolution. The scientific jury is still out as to the function of the tail, with someobservers indicating that it is used to stun fish and even seabirds and othersinsisting it is used to drive the shark through the surface of the water in a seriesof spectacular breaches.When researching the trip, certain expressions kept appearing that were areal measure of how this shark has eluded man through the ages. The WorldConservation Union, the body that allocates the population status details formost animals on earth, records simply that the thresher is “data deficient”.A study of shark species in 2003, brought together to gauge the appallingcarnage being wreaked by the long liners, simply noted that “few reliablerecords are known” about the thresher, and that most images of the shark aretaken after it is dead.I reached Malapascua after a boat trip, quite unreasonably, in the foulest offoul moods. Sooner or later everyone succumbs to a bout of bad temper on atv shoot – an endless succession of early mornings, tight budgets, late nights,unco-operative animals and long flights eventually taking their toll. Tonightit was my turn, and the rest of the crew followed the prescribed protocol andgave me a wide berth.Monty HallsPresenter, explorer andShark Trust patron.We arrived in complete darkness, and after leaping none too athletically offthe brightly coloured bow of the boat as it whispered onto the shore. I wassoon walking in sand so fine it squeaked with every stumbling step. I strodemuttering onto a lawn fringed with rustling palm trees at the head of thebeach and started to climb the steps to the lodge on the crest of the hill.A short few hours later, I was fumbling in the dark for the alarm clock andpreparing to set out to the dive operation across the other side of the island.Simon – the worlds most enthusiastic underwater cameraman – and myselfhad been assured that this was a mere ten minutes walk away, which ignoredthe warren of tracks and paths through the tiny fishing villages that dotted theisland. This first trip to the dive operator, begun in darkness and ending in thefirst hint of dawn some time later, was only made possible by the interventionof two tiny children. Finding us crashing, sweating and swearing amongst thepigs and chickens in the darkness at the back of their hut they took a hand eachand led us to the waiting boat. Mission accomplished, they skipped off to findmore tourists. I got the impression this was a well worn routine.The vessels used for diving of Malapascua are the same traditional bancasthat had brought us to the island – with sweeping white prows, curvedoutriggers and vivid traditional designs covering their hulls. After loadingmy gear I introduced myself to the crew – no-one particularly likes 4 am, evennuggety ex-fishermen tanned and lined by a lifetime at sea. Having made ourintroductions, I found a seat at the bow as the vessel came to life beneath me,turning seaward to greet the sun as it emerged from a distant horizon.An hour later, we moored at a lone bouy in a seemingly featureless sea.Despite the early hour, we kitted up, adrenaline and caffeine creating a headycocktail. Stepping into the sea, there was faint air of unreality to think that inthe pitch black of the deep water beneath us, the freakish undulating tail couldwell be powering a thresher towards our rendevous at the edge of the reef. Wedrifted down to the point where the reef plunged vertically into deep water,and settled beside what was plainly an ancient cleaning station. In my spotready for a long wait, like some gigantic cuttlefish in a puff of silt and sand, Iglanced up and there, about fifteen feet in front of me, was a Thresher Shark.I stared dumbstruck as it swept past, that magnificent tail undulating gently,the huge eye regarding me with what seemed genuine curiosity. Here wasthe creature of myth and legend made real, an encounter I’d firmly believedwould never take place. I turned to see Simon calmly filming me, and began tobabble at the camera. The shark dutifully circled us for several minutes, despitemy rapidly increasing enthusiasm and volume and even paused for a swiftpolish and brush up at the cleaning stationbefore drifting back over the deep waterat the edge of the drop off. The sheenof it’s skin was quite beautiful, with thebody beneath barely moving, a compactpackage of muscle propelled by the hugewaving spoiler above it. Finally overcomewith curiosity, or perhaps realizing thatthese peculiar creatures cowering on thereef before it were not a threat, the sharkcame in for one final pass, soaring onlyfeet overhead, pectorals like the sweptback wings of a fighter aircraft, tailundulating with waves of subtle power.Simon filmed it all, twisting his bodyto follow the shark as it swept inchesabove him. Breathtaking footage - thefinale of our programme in the firstmoment of the first dive of the firstmorning. Some day all wildlife filmingwill be this way.12 SharkFocus 29 SharkFocus 29 13

Website updateJune 2007 saw the re-launch of the Shark Trust website, with abrand new look, extra space and greater functionality. We’veused this opportunity to re-arrange the website content andmake all the latest news and campaigns more accessible. Youcan now find a Downloads section, where you can accessall the Shark Trust factsheets, education materials, activitiesand more. The new Education section includes the ActivityZone, as well as a guide to our curriculum-based educationresources for teachers and marine educators. For those of youwho would like to get involved in Shark Trust campaigns, we’veexpanded the information available and ideas on how you cantake action. More will be added to this section in the comingweeks, and if there is anything you would like to see here youcan email us at enquiries@sharktrust.org with your ideas.We’ve had a fantastic response to our online petition, whichwas launched at the end of April and has over 800 signaturesalready – go to www.sharktrust.org/petitions to add yoursupport! In recent weeks we’ve also been lucky to have theassistance of over 30 volunteers to compile species recordsfor the online Shark Info database, and these will be uploadedto the website in the coming weeks. If you would like to getinvolved with this, please see our online Vacancies page formore information. As usual, you can find upcoming eventslisted on the website, and we have also created a new formso that you can submit information on events you think SharkTrust supporters might be interested in. We’re still workingto improve the website so please get in touch with anysuggestions or material you would like to contribute.Website new users name: Blue, password: Shark.Reef Jewellery’s design tobe auctioned at the TenthAnniversary Gala Dinner.The idea of a Mermaid’s Purse seemed fitting for theoccasion. Not only can we produce lovely flowing linesfull of life and movement, but the egg case symbolisesthe fragile existence of our shark populations.Twenty two diamonds donated by De Beers havebeen set in the necklace. The pendant is set with rubyand diamonds to symbolise the life inside the egg case,with earrings to match. The necklace is made in 18-caratyellow gold. Great care has been taking to make this avery special piece of jewellery.EUROPEAN ELASMOBRANCHASSOCIATION11th ANNUAL MEETING& SCIENCE CONFERENCEFirst Announcement23 th – 26 th November 2007 Brest, FranceParc de Découverte des Océans OCEANOPOLIS BrestBrest harbour, at the tip of Brittany the western part ofcontinental France.Brest, European center of excellence for oceanography.Brest, a French maritime regional capital is an internationalreference in the field of oceanography and marine technologieswith more than 2000 researchers and engineers representing60% of the national community in this field.Provisional ScheduleFriday, November 23th:Welcome and registrationAnnual Plenary Assembly of the EEA Board of DirectorsOpening night : surprise programSaturday, November 24th and Sunday, November 25th:Annual Scientific Conference : scientific presentations (oralpresentations, posters, video presentations) and publicconference & eventsMonday, November 26th:Optional tour of Brest area attractionsInvited are contributions dealing with any aspects ofcartilaginous fishes, past, present orfuture, dealing with, but notrestricted to the topics of:“Biodiversity, fishery and conservation ofChondrichthyans”Two special sessions are already proposed:“Husbandry and conservation”“Basking Shark : current stage of knowledge”Contributors from all parts of Europe and beyond are invited tofurther enhance communicationand the exchange of information.The meeting will be comprised of video-conferences, oralcommunications and posters presentations.All will be conducted in English.A few travel grants will be available to student presenting anoral communication.Applications should be submitted to EEA2007@asso-apecs.orgfor an evaluation by the scientific committee of the meeting.11th EEA Meeting is supported by OCEANOPOLIS-SOPABIntroducingShark Trust trusteeSomething in the water, Icouldn’t really see what it was…I was 6; it was 1972 and we werestaying at Soar Mill Cove Hotelin Salcombe on our familysummer holiday. “That’s a shark fin”, my Dad said, and tookme down to the beach, binoculars in hand.We stood with a small group of people and I was mesmerisedby the Basking Shark fins slicing through the water. I wouldalways be fascinated by sharks.Fast forward to 1998 and I had been diving for 2 years. I wasdiving on a liveaboard in Thailand and I had never seen ashark underwater. Then, at the periphery of my vision, aWhitetip Reef Shark darted over the coral, just a glimpse, butI had finally realised my dream.The most memorable diving day since then was during a tripwith my wife Carey to La Paz in Mexico. The Sea of Cortez isfamous for its big fish encounters….We set off for our first dive to the Sea Lion colony, and thenrested up for dive two to search for hammerheads – which wefound. A staggering day, everyone on the boat was jabberingexcitedly on the way back. During the excited conversationsCarey asked the divemaster if there where any Whale Sharksin the area this year. “Sure, they are here now” he replied.“Can we look for them?” Carey asked. “Maybe tomorrow”came the reply.“It’s our last day [I lied] and we have never seen one, no oneelse on the trip has ever seen one either”.Surprised, and with a wry smile, the divemaster turned theboat around and 15 minutes later we were in the water withtwo of the most majestic and beautiful creatures I could everimagine.It was that day I decided I had to do something aboutprotecting sharks.The Shark Trust is one of the worlds leading shark conservationorganisations, working tirelessly to bring common senseand workable solutions to help resolve the unsustainabledestruction of tens of millions of sharks each year.This summer I was asked to be a Trustee for the Shark Trust.In the next issue of SharkFocusSpecial Tenth Anniversary bumper edition.A celebration of 10 years of championingsharks.With celebrity andshark expert articles and much more.Steve RoestCOMPETITIONON DEADLINEThere’s a free trip to the Maldives at stake, so makesure to send in your best shark photographs soon.The SHARK TRUST and divEr search for the ultimateprize-winning shots closes at the end of AugustTaken any good shark photos lately? The Shark Trust hasspent the past 10 years working on shark conservation,and to mark this achievement it has teamed up withdivEr to host Sharks In Focus, a photo competitiondevised to celebrate the beauty, and highlight thevulnerability of sharks, skates, rays and chimaera.The contest is open to every underwater photographer, and covers all typesof shark encounter. You can enter from now until 31 August by submittingeither one or two images over the Internet. Suitable entries will be displayedin an online gallery, and whittled down by public vote.The finalists’ work will be displayed at Dive 2007 at the NEC in October, wherean expert jury will choose the best shot in each of four categories – PerfectCalm, Stormy Seas, Challenging Times, and Quirky Encounters – and theoverall winner.Prizes will be awarded at a Sharks In Focus fund-raising gala evening tocelebrate the Shark Trust’s 10th anniversary. Finally, the winners’ work will beimmortalised in the 2008 divEr Calendar! You’ll find full details of how toenter on the Shark Trust website, www.sharktrust.org/photo.£7000 IN PRIZES!First prize, for the overall winner across fourcategories, is a week-long diving holiday for twoat Vilamendhoo Island Resort in the Maldives,including international flights, transfers, halfboardhotel accommodation and a five-daydiving package. The whole package, wortharound £3000, comes courtesy of touroperator Barefoot Traveller, PlatinumCapital Holdings and Euro-Divers.There will also another £4000-worth of prizes of diving equipmentfor category winners and special commendations. These are kindlybeing donated by the following companies:14 Keep an eye on the website for news on a new EU Shark Week this OctoberSharkFocus 29SharkFocus 29 Submit your photos at www.sharktrust.org/photo 815