New Resident at Aquarium!

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center gained a new family member last month!

Mena & a diver in her new home

Mena Zebra

A little zebra shark named Mena was captured from the Red Sea off of the Thousand Islands in Idonesia (yes, like the salad dressing!) and brought back to assist the conservation of her species. The staff plan to nurse her until she is mature and is better equipped to further her race.

Mena is quite petite: 5 feet long and not quite 40 lbs

Included are a few photos from the website!

http://hamptonroads.com

Some Timely Shark Info

Just a few items of shark news!

Shortfin Mako sharks are at this time already heading south! With a preferred temperature range of 60-70* F, the shortfins are departing for warmer waters as October unfolds and November approaches. These sharks remain along our area of the coast (writing from Norfolk/Va Beach) for the summer and early fall but turn their tails to the Gulf of Mexico when the water cools down.

Sandbar Sharks' migration coincides with their mating season. These sharks too remain in our general area for the summer, but come colder months the males depart, often in a group. The females follow soon after, but individually and alone. The reason for this is unknown; Sandbars are known for more than a few unusual quirks. After migrating south to Florida or the Gulf, the males once again return home sooner than the females. Presumably leaving them to give birth, it is thought that perhaps the males would turn to the newborn pups as a cannibalistic source of food if they remained.

Stay Sharp!

More Soup?

Chinese NBA star Yao Ming returns to his homeland and admirably commits himself to fighting the explosive craze of shark-fin soup.

The article featured here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/22/501364/main20110217.shtml

has more information.

Check it out!

WWF'in Great

The WWF Seafood Sustainable Group has made recruits of a large supermarket chain in Singapore. This business move effectively halts all sale of shark fins or any other part of the poor creatures. This is a great victory for sharks, whose extremities will no longer be peddled in 42 establishments of Cold Storage.

http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?201825/Leading-Singaporean-supermarket-chain-says-no-to-shark-fin

Andy Brandy gets Friendly

An interesting fellow I accidentally found on Facebook, "A.B.C. 4" seems to be a very talented photographer. Here I have posted his "Great White Shark Song." 

Give it a listen! 

Here is the link to his website, definitely worth checking out:

http://abc4explore.com/

Andy Brandy Casagrande IV & Tiger Shark

Andy Samberg shows his love for our undersea friends!

Marshall Islands, Sanctuary for Sharks

Australia's Marshall Islands has just become the largest legal shark sanctuary in the world!

Sharks must be thrown back when accidentally ensnared by commercial ships and large fines will be imposed upon those possessing any part one.

The Island of Palau (upper left hand corner of right image) is also a shark refuge!