The Dorsal Fin

David Shiffman (WhySharksMatter) of the Southern Fried Science blog has been named a finalist in the 2011 Blogging Scholarship. If he wins the scholarship it will provide him with $10,000 of funding for his dissertation research which focuses on the ecological importance of sharks to coral reefs.

If you want to help support David and his research, you can vote for him at the 2011 Blogging Scholarship voting page.

Jonathan Green recently posted a promotional video video for the Galapagos Whale Shark Project. The project is a collaborative effort of several organizations and involves tagging whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) with satellite tags with the goal of learning more about the species and increasing public knowledge about whale sharks.

For more information about the project, visit the Galapagos Whale Shark Project website.

Australia’s Ten News recently ran a feature on shark research being performed in Australian waters. The report focuses on tracking data of a female white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) named “Rachel,” who was tagged off Gold Coast, Queensland last June.

Since being tagged she has traveled south along the coast through New South Wales water and down toward Victoria waters before turning around heading north. According to researcher Jonathan Werry, the tagged white shark has traveled between 1,500-2,000 kilometers.

According to the report, the research team has tagged a total of 49 “dangerous” sharks, including multiple bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas). The team is studying the movement patterns of the sharks with the aim of protecting bathers.

KTVU.com is reporting that Dr. Michael Domeier is seeking a permit to tag 11 female great white sharks over a period of four years at the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The report addresses the somewhat recent controversy regarding “Junior” and the SPOT tagging program, which KTVU reports was brought about by researchers who oppose the tagging techniques employed by Domeier.

An earlier report from MSNBC.com quoted Domeier as saying he had voluntarily stopped using the SPOT tags. The article went on to note that Domeier was working on a new tagging technique. There was no mention in the KTVU.com report of whether this no technique would be employed should the Farallones permit request be approved.

In addition to the KTVU article, there is also video report which includes interviews with Dr. Domeier and FNMS Superintendent Maria Brown. You can check out the article and video at KTVU.com.

The following report and accompanying photos were provided by Cassie Heil and Oceans Research. Thanks to Ms. Heil and Oceans Research for sharing this story, and kudos to all those who helped with the rescue effort.

Great white shark in the back of this Oceans Research vessel after breaching into the boat.
(photo courtesy of Oceans Research)

3m Great White Shark breaches into Research Boat Oceans Research Team gets a little too close for comfort

Mossel Bay, 18 July, 2011: The Oceans Research team, a marine research organisation working in Mossel Bay, got the surprise of a lifetime today when a 3 meter great white shark breached into their research vessel, shocking a field specialist and her crew.

Field Specialist Dorien Schroder of Mossel Bay, and six crew members had been chumming since 7:30 this morning with sardines off of Seal Island, conducting research for a population dynamics study that has been ongoing for the past three years. They had been chumming for over an hour and had a fair amount of activity around the boat, taking data on at least 4 sharks, including a shark named Pasella, which has been frequently seen in the bay since 2008.

Activity around the boat had ceased for about five minutes and all was pretty quiet at the stern. Schroder describes the incident; Next thing I know I hear a splash, and see a white shark breach out of the water from side of the boat hovering, literally, over the crewmember who was chumming on the boats portside. Schroder automatically sprang into action and pulled the crewmember quickly away towards the stern of the boat’s platform into safety. The crewmembers all jumped towards the stern of the boat as the 3m, 500kg, shark landed on the top of the fuel and bait storage containers. The shark had landed with only half of its body onto the boat and Schroder and her team hoped that as it thrashed it would make its way back into the water. But instead the panicked shark worked itself into the boat getting stuck in between the 1.5x2m area behind the container and boats stern. The shark began thrashing around, destroying equipment and cutting the fuel lines as it twisted and turned on the boats deck. (continue reading…)