New Measures Take Effect in January 2010

Posted on December 27, 2009 by bansharkfinning

Looks like the conservationists have been hard at work on the East Coast. Several new rules are going to take effect in mid-January that incorporate restrictions on fin harvesting (aka Finning) in the waters from Florida to Maine. Fourteen different kinds of sharks are now on the limited catch list. Some of the sharks that will now be protected from fin harvesting as a result of these new rules include the sandbar, silky and Caribbean sharpnose sharks from state waters.

What are some of the restrictions?

– One fish per person/two fish per vessel

-54-inch fork length minimum size limit for most sharks in Florida waters (except Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, bonnethead, finetooth and blacktip sharks and smooth dogfish)

Silky Sharks are one of the types of sharks protected under the new measures due to overexploitation

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.. Whale Sharks are all one big family ..

Posted on June 23, 2009 by bansharkfinning
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

For Whale Sharks (RhincodonTypus) it is all, very literally, in the family. The Whale Shark has been around since the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods (that translates to be around 245-65 million years ago). Pretty impressive for a species that lives on incredibly small species as a main daily diet.

Looking to see a Whale Shark? Australia has the most recorded sightings and there is always India, the Maldives, South Africa, Belize, Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. As you can tell by these locations Whale Sharks prefer the warmer, more temperate waters.

As with any type of shark they are in major danger … one Whale Shark can sell for around $20,000 US due to the fact that it is considered a delicacy in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and Japan. Hopefully their status on the endangered species list will overtake their status as a delicacy. If it doesn’t this majestic, peaceful creature will cease to be on any type of list.

Please help this creature by informing everyone you know of this issue and keep one of the oldest families around for as long as possible.

Here’s the article: It’s all in the family

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