Tracking data from SPOT tags report the whereabouts of tagged white sharks.

An OCEARCH tagged white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) reported in off the coast of South Carolina, east of Charleston last week. The shark, nicknamed “Mary Lee,” is an adult female measuring 16′ (5m) in length. She was originally tagged by the OCEARCH team in September off of Cape Cod. The SPOT (Smart Position and Temperature) tags report data when a tagged shark surfaces. According to tracking data, Mary Lee has been spending her time in coastal waters off of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina coast over the past month.

You can follow OCEARCH’s tagged sharks at their Global Shark Tracker page.

The Washington Post is reporting that a ban on shark fishing will go into effect this week in the waters of American Somoa, a U.S. territory. The ban will make it illegal to catch or possess sharks within three nautical miles of the shore, which will cover most of the American Somoa’s reefs.

For more information, check out the story at The Washington Post.

According to U. of Fla. study, white sharks descended from a recently identified extinct shark species.

According to Phys.org, a University of Florida study has identified a recently identified extinct shark species (Carcharodon hubbelli) as being an early “intermediate form” of white shark. Researchers involved in the study believe that the modern great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is descended from “broad-toothed mako sharks.”

Previously, the white shark was believed to be descended from the “Megalodon,” which is believed to be the largest predatory shark to have ever lived. However, the genus of the extinct species has been previously debated. The species, which was originally classified as Carcharodon megalodon, is now referred to by some scientists as Carcharocles megalodon. The recent University of Florida study seems to support the Carcharocles argument.

For more information about the study and Carcharodon hubbelli, check out “New ancient shark species gives insight into origin of great white” at Phys.org.

Is negative media coverage contributing to a public ‘image problem’ for sharks?

According to Phys.org, researchers from Michigan State University revealed that Australian and U.S. media coverage regarding sharks primarily focused on shark attacks. Results from the study, which appears in Conservation Biology, indicated that over half of global shark-related media coverage focused on attacks on humans. Additionally, sharks were “portrayed negatively” in approximately 60% of media coverage, according to Phys.org. In comparison, only about 10% of media coverage focused on shark conservation and 7% focused on shark biology/ecology.

The researchers involved in the study suggested that the negative portrayal of sharks in the media could be having an impact on conservation efforts, due to sharks having a public “image” problem. Dr. Meredith Gore, a researcher involved in the study, suggested that balancing media coverage with “positive” articles focusing on that relative risk of attacks, measures to prevent attacks, and conservation issues could help improve the public view of sharks.

For more information, check out “Shark: Bad creatures or bad image?” at Phys.org.

You can read the journal article “Australian and U.S. News Media Portrayal of Sharks and Their Conservation” at Wiley.com.

According to the Sacramento Bee, a journal article published in the latest issue of Conservation Biology reveals “significant declines in catch rates” for blue (Prionace glauca), mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), and oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus) sharks in North Pacific waters. According to the article, the declines in catch rates indicate heavy fishing of the species. The research also showed a decrease in the average sizes of both oceanic whitetip and silky (Carcharhinus falciformis) sharks.

You can check out the full article at the Sacramento Bee. The journal article will be available in the latest issue of Conservation Biology.