Sharks

In an unprecedented study, scientists from the University of Florida (UF) have delved into the development of hammerhead sharks' skulls, uncovering the process behind their iconic hammer-like shape at the embryonic stage.

Led by UF professor Gareth Fraser, the study focussed on bonnetheads, the smallest among the hammerhead shark species. The species’ abundance in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, along with their near-shore presence, made them ideal subjects for the study.

The revelation that basking sharks are partially warm-blooded challenges previous assumptions about the physiology of these colossal creatures and has significant implications for their conservation and understanding of marine ecosystems.

Ecotourism, particularly shark diving tourism, has become a significant global industry, attracting over half a million participants annually across approximately 85 countries. While it generates substantial revenue and raises awareness for shark conservation, concerns about its impact on shark behaviour and health, as well as human safety, persist.

Ecotourism has been posited as a potential solution to many of the issues facing shark conservation, yet increasingly studies suggest that such activity may negatively influence aspects of shark ecology and so further pressure declining populations.

^{— Joel H. Gayford, et al.}

According to research, some sharks relocate to deeper, calmer seas well in advance of when people forecast powerful hurricanes. Sharks are now being marked in an effort to gather data that cannot be obtained by conventional ocean equipment..

Recent scientific research has begun to challenge the long-standing perception of sharks as solitary hunters. Rather, it reveals their complex social structure that is borne out of a high level of cognitive function.

In fact, these studies suggest that sharks possess a level of social intelligence, problem-solving skills and even emotional intelligence that far surpass previous beliefs, offering a fresh perspective on their behaviour and potential sentience.

Two male great white sharks, named "Jekyll" and "Simon", tagged off Georgia's coast in December, displayed a groundbreaking migration pattern.

From April, Jekyll and Simon's joint journey saw them traverse the Atlantic Coast, passing places like Ocracoke and Virginia Beach in a synchronised manner. While sharks sometimes gather for mating or feeding, their migrations are usually solitary.

In a bid to learn more about ghost sharks, researchers from the University of Florida (UF) and the Seattle Aquarium are using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore the oceanic depths 100 meters below the surface of the Pacific Northwest.

In particular, they want to find the nesting grounds of the Pacific spotted ratfish, as currently very little is known about their spawning habits and embryonic development.

The team had been gathering material for the David Attenborough documentary Our Planet II. They were operating an inflatable boat around the Laysan area of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in order to capture footage of tiger sharks consuming young albatross fledglings.

Brazil's environmental protection agency, Ibama, estimated that approximately 11,000 blue sharks and shortfin mako sharks, which Brazil listed as endangered last month, were killed.

The fins, which were destined for Asia, where shark fin soup is considered a delicacy, were found in two locations.