Shark Information Shark Info
Shark Information
Whether you would like to learn more about shark cage diving, or you are seeking resources on specific shark species, Apex Shark Expeditions offers a range of information on sharks and marine life. For nature fans wanting to expand their knowledge, students seeking information for assignments or those who simply have an interest in sharks and the many other species that share their underwater world, our information guides give you everything you ever wish to know about sharks, cage diving, dolphins, whales, pelagic birds, game fish and so much more.
Sharks
Learn more about Bull sharks, the world-famous breaching Great Whites, shark cage diving and how it works, shark photography and a host of other shark related information. Our guides give you comprehensive information on a host of shark topics, so that you can learn more about these fascinating and often misjudged citizens of the ocean. Complete with beautiful images from the Chris Fallows photography galleries, these information guides are the ultimate resource for anyone with a passion for sharks.
Dolphins, Whales and Game Fish
While sharks play the biggest role at Apex, there are a number of other marine species inhabiting our rich coastlines in South Africa. Here is where you can discover everything you wish to know about a range of marine animals including dolphins, whales and game fish. To access the guides, simply choose the animal that you wish to learn more about, and click the link to open the information page.
Pelagic Birds
Sea birds play a key role in marine balance, and bird watchers continuously return to the Cape coastline to view the wide array of pelagic species that can be found within the area. These range from the ever-present seagulls to albatross’, shearwaters and petrels to name but a few. To learn more about South Africa’s pelagic birds, read our handy information guide below.
Date : 01 October 2001
Producer : Diana Lucas
Presenter : Derek Watts
Naturalist, seaman and eco photographer, Chris Fallows has spent five years in the False Bay area studying this super predator. He has observed a unique phenomenon in the way the Great White hunts its prey.
Seal Island, about 5kms off shore, is really just an isolated pile of rocks, but the secret lies in the name. It's home to about 64 000 seals and it's during the winter months when steenbras and yellowtail aren't available that seal meat moves to number one on the shark's menu. In fact, you could say their fate is sealed...
Full transcript ......What one-ton fish armed with rows of dagger-like teeth can lunge ten feet from the ocean to snatch its prey? None other than the great white shark, a super-predator that has honed its killing skills over hundreds of millions of years. Husband-and-wife photography team Chris and Monique Fallows share their pictures, experiences, and insights collected over a lifetime of observing sharks and other predators in Africa.
By Chris Fallows
Four hundred million years ago the first sharklike fish appeared in the ocean. Today that original predatory fish has evolved, fine-tuned into one of the world’s almost perfect hunters, the great white shark.
It was always a dream to be able to work with these super predators. So when in 1996 at a small shelving of rock in False Bay, South Africa, a colleague and I discovered these sharks taking to the air in unbelievable bursts of athleticism, I knew I had found my calling.
Photo courtesy of Chris Fallows, www.apexpredators.com
Great Whites Mindless Killers or Very Accommodating Predators?
Recent shark activity in both, local and Australian waters have bought Great White Sharks into the spotlight once again. Unfortunately when this happens it is almost always bad publicity for the Great White Shark, the backlash in Australia to a shark attack which resulted in a call for the killing of the Great White Shark that was responsible has prompted this article by Chris and Monique Fallows. Chris Fallows has been interacting with Great White Sharks for decades and in the name of research has gotten himself remarkably close on several occasions to these surprisingly accommodating predators. Read more about Chris’ experiences when interacting with the sharks in their territory.
R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program (RJD)
The R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program (RJD) at the University of Miami is to conserve our oceans by combining cutting edge research and educational outreach activities. Through RJD, we will explore the planet’s final frontier using hands-on field and virtual learning experiences. Whether online or on board our boats, join us and help save our oceans for generations to come by ‘Making Waves.’
RJD continues to conduct research that generates critical information for implementing ocean conservation strategies; however, uniquely RJD provides high school, undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to participate in exciting hands-on field experiences. The Program exposes students and teachers to the importance of oceans in their daily lives through virtual expeditions, online high school curriculum, webinars and online workshops.
For more information check out:
http://www.rjd.miami.edu
http://www.ShopForSharks.com
Oceana
Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Our offices in the Americas and Europe work together on a limited number of strategic campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance.
The Shark Conservation Society
"In 2008 Richard Peirce Shark Conservation became The Shark Conservation Society (SCS). In the ten years of its existence the Society has achieved some remarkable results in the areas of shark conservation and awareness. SCS concentrates on running research and filming expeditions to areas of the world where little or no shark work has been done. The Society is made up entirely of volunteers and has run twelve expeditions since 2003. Many of the volunteers have been on several expeditions and as such the Society is now able to deploy fully trained teams into the field wherever they may be required. SCS work in the Gulf involved the discovery of species new to the area, and ground breaking conservation legislation. SCS work off Cornwall secured the first free swimming footage of Porbeagle sharks anywhere in the world, and SCS deployed the first tags on Porbeagles on the eastern side of the Atlantic which led to the publication of a scientific paper. SCS work in the Mediterranean has included assisting with enabling White shark protective legislation, and the collection of data resulting in the publication of Blue shark papers.
The Society has helped with the production of various powerful conservation films including Porbeagles in Peril, The Search for White sharks in the Mediterranean, Sharks in British Seas, and Shark Attack Britain.
Shark Trust chairman Richard Peirce is also the founder and current chairman of SCS and his wife Jacqui is deputy chair. Richard commented. "Nowadays there are loads of people around the world doing really good shark conservation work. Fifteen years ago when I started there were very few of us, and one of the reasons that SCS is so successful is that we don't try to do the easy or the obvious. We succeed because we are working in places where work has not been done before and this will continue to be at the core of our philosophy. Our mission statement is The Shark Conservation Society seeks to further conservation through research expeditions and campaigns based on fact and practical experience, and to promote best practice when interaction with sharks is necessary.
AILERONS
AILERONS, the Association Ichtyologique pour L’Etude la Recherche et l’Observation dans la Nature des Sélaciens, is a French non-governmental organization founded in May 2006 by the marine biologist and French member of the Mediterranean Shark Research Group, Nicolas ZIANI. The organisation is located in Montpellier (Hérault), Southern France. AILERONS aims to study sharks and rays for their conservation and the education of the people about sharks' ecological importance and the urgent need for global shark conservation. The primary goal is to study shark and ray populations in the French Mediterranean in order to participate in their conservation.
Oceans Artists Society
http://www.oceanartistssociety.org/
Protect the Sharks (Holland)
http://www.protect-the-sharks.org/
http://www.neilhammer.com/images/stories/documents/Martin_Rossmo_Hammerschlag_2009_JZool.pdf
Austin J. Gallagher & Neil Hammerschlag 2011.
Global Shark Currency: The Distribution, Frequency and Economic Value of Shark Eco-tourism.
Current Issues in Tourism, 1–16.
Download article here
Cape Town Shark Cage Diving Operators;
Helping the Preservation of the False Bay Great White Shark
In 1991 South Africa was the first country in the world to label the Great White Shark as a protected species and has since then been leading the world in trying to learn more about this remarkable ocean dwelling predator. Unfortunately for the Great White Shark the mass media and the popular press have never quite been able to drop, or have never been willing to drop, the stigma that the movie “Jaws” attached to this majestic beast. The Great White is not the only shark that is suffering, the shark fin industry is worth billions of dollars every year, between the years of 1996 to 2000 it estimated that between 26 and 73 million shark fins were traded. The huge discrepancy in these numbers stems from the fact that shark fin trading is a legal grey area with shark fisherman and suppliers exploiting legal loopholes and operating illegally in countries where enforcement structure is either underfunded or turns a blind eye. In order to have more space on the boat for the valuable fins, fishermen have taken to finning the sharks at sea and dumping the bodies overboard, often still alive. This barbaric practice has only helped to increase public outcry against the shark fin trade. Great white shark conservation is a top priority for the save our seas foundation in Cape Town and the many Cape Town shark cage diving operators.
In previous years the BBC did not always get their timing with us right and arrived before or after things really got going, this time Simon King and Ted hit the nail on the head.
On many days during their 3 week stay with us we witnessed over 30 predatory events, many including spectacular breaches. Simon and Ted were consumate professionals, as well being enjoyable company on the boat. Planet Earth pictures and Planet Earth products will undoubtedly take the documentary watching fraternity by storm, pretty much like The Blue Planet did before.
