The Dorsal Fin

Shark Year Magazine is reporting that approximately 7.7 tons of shark fins were seized in city of Belém last Friday. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources discovered the fins during an inspection of a fish processing company. The company intended to export the fins to China. However, they now face fines of up to R$ 2.7 million (approximately 1.4 million USD) for failing to provide documentation about the shark carcasses from which the fins were removed.

For the full story, check out Shark Year Magazine.

Could the Loch Ness Monster and other lake monsters be large sleeper sharks?

UPDATE: Check out the comments section for more information regarding Greenland sharks in St. Lawrence Seaway and maximum weight recorded for a Greenland shark. Thanks to Jeffrey Gallant of GEERG.

An article from the Alaska Dispatch presents a theory suggesting that lake monsters, such as those that have been reportedly sighted at Loch Ness and Alaska’s Lake Iliamna, could be large sleeper sharks, like the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) or Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus). The article’s author, Bruce Wright, notes the documented presence of Greenland sharks in the St. Lawrence Seaway as providing credibility to the theory of sleeper sharks being able to survive in freshwater.

Pacific sleeper sharks are known to inhabit the waters around Alaska, and it has been suggested, by some, that Greenland sharks might be inhabiting the United Kingdom’s waters. Both species are believed to be able to reach maximum lengths of over 20′, and Wright believes these large sleeper sharks might be the key to explaining “lake monster” sightings at Loch Ness and Lake Iliamna.

Wright plans to lead an expedition in hopes of documenting the presence of a sleeper shark in Alaska’s Lake Iliamna later this year.

For more information, check out the Wright’s sleeper shark theory article.

The New Zealand Herald is reporting that the recent actions seen in the “shark surfing” video do not violate New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The video featured a fisherman “surfing” on the carcass of a bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) as it was being towed behind a boat. The shark had been inadvertently hooked the day before the video was shot, while the man seen in the video along with two fellow fishermen were trying to catch swordfish. The shark was already dead by the time it was pulled onto the boat, according to the fishermen. They were in the process of towing the carcass back out to sea to dispose of it, when the “surfing” video was shot.

The video sparked some controversy after it was posted to Facebook. However, since the shark had been deceased for over a day when the “surfing” incident occurred, the actions of the fisherman were not a violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

You can check out the full article at the New Zealand Herald.

National Geographic has uploaded a preview clip from the upcoming episode “Shark Men – Whale of a Tiger.” The video is shot off Mexico’s Isla Socorro where the “Shark Men” team appear to be attempting to hook a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier).

“Shark Men – A Whale of a Tiger” airs on May 12 (Saturday) at 8pm ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel.

CNN reports that according to recent survey Pacific reef shark populations around islands populated by humans have dropped an estimated 90% when compared to reef areas that are not near human-populated areas. The study used data from over 1,600 surveys of Pacific islands and atolls. Julia Baum, a co-author of the study, indicated that shark fishing was likely the cause of the population decline.

You can read the entire article at CNN.com.