The Dorsal Fin

DiscoveryNetworks has shared the video above which focuses on sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus). The feature is shot at the Florida Aquarium after it had recently added 6 sand tigers to the aquarium. Allan Marshall (VP of Operations for Florida Aquarium) says that the species is ideal to help educate people about sharks. The sand tiger’s “menacing” appearance really grabs the attention of aquarium visitors, once the sharks have the aquarium visitors’ attention, the aquarium staff can then educate them about the true nature of the sharks.

Sand tiger sharks, aka grey nurse sharks (AUS) and ragged tooth sharks (RSA), are generally viewed as docile and harmless to humans. According to Marshall, the species, was wrongfully blamed in the past for attacks on humans, simply due to its appearance, which led to hunting of the species. The species is now protected in Australian, South African, and U.S. waters.

DiscoveryNetworks also added a second video focusing on the journey that the six sand tiger sharks made to get to the Florida Aquarium.

Pro Dive South Africa recently added the above video to YouTube, which showcases a rescue effort to save a young sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) or spotted ragged-tooth shark, as they’re known in South Africa. The shark had apparently become entangled in some fishing line after being hooked. The line had cut into the shark’s head, and the hook was still embedded in the shark’s mouth.

Thanks to the efforts of Pro Dive South Africa, the shark was freed from both the fishing line and the hook. The actions of these divers will hopefully increase the shark’s chances for survival. Kudos to all those involved in this rescue effort!

A small sand tiger shark (aka grey nurse shark, or spotted ragged-tooth) caught by fishermen in Long Island Sound is making the rounds in the local news media. Despite being a species considered relatively harmless to humans, the news of the presence of a sand tiger shark apparently stirred up some fear among some of those interviewed in the story above.

Mystic Aquarium suggests that fishermen who catch sand tiger sharks should release them. While the fishermen who caught the shark seem to be enjoying the fame of their “big catch,” they told NBC Connecticut that they would release any sharks that they catch in the future.

Lesley Rochat, one of the minds behind the Rethink the Shark ad campaign, has posted a new video in conjunction with her recent article which appears in Africa Geographic magazine this month. "Mighty Maxine, A Shark’s Legacy" follows the story of Maxine, a sand tiger shark (also known as a ragged-tooth shark), and her journey from being accidentally entangled in a fishing net, tagged and released, caught by another fisherman, transported to live at the Two Oceans Aquarium for nine years, to being released back to the wild.

For more information about the Mighty Maxine campaign visit AfriOceans Conservation Alliance, where you can download a PDF of the Africa Geographic article and sign the petition to help protect multiple shark species.