The Dorsal Fin

al.com recently posted an article regarding a study by researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab regarding the stomach contents of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). The article reports that researchers have found migratory birds in the stomachs of tiger sharks caught off the Alabama coast. The article goes on to discuss a theory that oil platforms are providing the tiger shark with a “bird buffet” due to the lights of the rigs attracting the birds and causing them to circle to platforms to the point of exhaustion, causing them to fall into the sea.

You can check out the full story at al.com.

According to a release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the harvest of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran), scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), and smooth hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena) will be prohibited in state waters. The measure, which was voted on today, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.

The measure will also prohibit the “possession, sale and exchange” of any of the four species that are taken from state waters. However, the species may still be caught on a catch and release basis. The measure applies only to state waters and does not prohibit the harvest of these four species in adjacent federal waters.

Earth-Touch recently posted some video footage featuring primarily tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). There’s also a few shots of some blacktip sharks mixed in. If you’re in the mood to watch a couple of minutes of shark video footage, this one is worth checking out.

Shark Angels has posted a video featuring various species of sharks (as well as rays, whales, and dolphins) to its YouTube channel. The video offers some great imagery of underwater life with the intent of reminding viewers of some of the magnificent inhabitants of the ocean.

Footage used in the video was shot by Paul Wildman in South African waters.

According to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission press release, the FWC has proposed new rules to prohibit the harvest of tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), and smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) sharks in Florida waters. According to the FWC, research indicates that these species have suffered population declines in recent decades, and the scalloped hammerhead is “overfished.”

The Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the FWC has already “approved a ban” on the killing of these species. However, the FWC press release states that a final hearing on the proposed ban will not take place until November.

While the proposed ban would prohibit the killing of these four species, catch-and-release fishing of the sharks would still be permitted.