The Dorsal Fin

From NOAA:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) encourages the live release of North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) due to overfishing occurring on the population. In order to promote the live release of shortfin mako sharks, NMFS has developed a web page where commercial and recreational fishermen can contribute information about shortfin mako shark releases and populate an interactive web map. The shortfin mako live release web page contains current information on shortfin mako stock status and regulations, along with details on tagging programs and safe handling and release guidelines.

You can find the main shortfin mako live release webpage and web map at the following links.

• NOAA’s Shortfin Mako Main Page
• Live Shortfin Mako Releases Map
• NOAA Press Release

For further information on the web page, or to request outreach materials, please contact the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division by phone at 301-713-2347, or by email at shortfinmako@noaa.gov.

Renowned marine life artist Guy Harvey is encouraging fellow fishermen to join him in promoting shark conservation through the Shark Free Marina Initiative. The program designates members as either shark-free or shark-friendly (catch and release only). In addition to marinas, charters, bait and tackle shops, and restaurants are encouraged to join the initiative.

Members of the Shark Free Marinas Initiative receive free advertising, educational literature about sharks, and signs featuring the artwork of Guy Harvey.

Thanks to Shark Diver’s Underwater Thrills blog for the heads-up on this video.

From National Geographic:

On this episode, the crew has reached their last days at Guadalupe Island, and want to make the most of it. They catch one more female great white, Annika, and Dr. Domeier hopes that a blood sample from her will complete his Guadalupe breeding ground research. They also wrangle Apache, a male, a fighter, and their biggest shark to date. The record-breaking shark, measured 13 inches longer than their previous record-holding white shark capture, weighs approximately 4,225 pounds.

“Shark Men: Biggest and Baddest” premieres Sunday at 10pm ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel.

Grant Johnson recently uploaded this video, documenting the tagging of a large female bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), to his YouTube channel. The shark, which was tagged off of Bimini, was measured at 2.65m in length and was safely released unharmed after being measured and tagged, according to the video description.

It should go without saying that Johnson and the team involved in this tagging effort have a great deal of experience in field research involving sharks, so kids, don’t try this at home (or on your boat).

The video above features footage of United Kingdom angler Pete Thorman participating in a catch and release tagging program of white sharks in South Africa. According to the video information, the footage is taken from old home videos during Thorman’s fishing trips to facilitate conservation efforts involving the tagging of great white sharks.

Thorman caught and released 26 white sharks as part of the program, according to the video description. The events featured in the video were shot prior to regulations that created a total ban on rod and reel catches of white sharks in South Africa.

In addition to commentary about Thorman’s angling efforts as they relate to the tagging program, the narrator of the video also interjects his opinions and theories about baited cage diving in South Africa.