Alison Kock, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Despite low shark attack numbers, many people are afraid of being bitten. There are, however, ways to steer clear of these creatures.
Great white sharks in South Africa have extremely low genetic diversity compared with shark populations elsewhere in the world.
Sara Andreotti/www.sharkdivingunlimited.com
Some things that develop as normal in elephant sharks and other marine life can mimic things we see in human disease. That makes these ‘mutants’ ideal for study to find out why things go wrong in humans.
Scientists are starting to think that young white sharks could be responsible for clusters of shark encounters.
White shark image from www.shutterstock.com
More research may not necessarily prove to be the answer to shark attacks. Instead, we should look at programs that are already working, such as aerial patrols.
A greynurse shark complete with a tracking device - scientifically the best way to keep tabs on what sharks are up to.
AAP Image/NSW Ministery for Agriculture and Fisheries
Calls are growing louder for a shark cull in New South Wales. But like in Western Australia, which infamously experimented with culling last year, a NSW cull would harm sharks while failing to protect people.
Australian surfer Mick Fanning, seen here surfing at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast, has decided to change the colour of his surfboard. No more yellow.
AAP Image/Jesse Little
The recent shark attack was enough to convince Australian surfer Mick Fanning that the colour of his surfboard may have been a factor. But what do sharks actually see in the water?
There are certain times and locations where people are more likely to encounter a shark.
Morne Hardenberg
A rash of white shark attacks this summer points to a rebounding population in the US – a sign of healthier oceans and the need to coexist with this apex predator.
The moment a shark encounters Australian champion surfer Mick Fanning.
AAP Image/World Surf League, Kirstin Scholtz
Although frightening, the footage of Mick Fanning at Jeffreys Bay is a reminder that sharks are present in the oceans, and that the vast majority of interactions between people and sharks end without fatality or injury.
Sensationalized shark attacks skew the facts.
'Shark' via www.shutterstock.com
We used to think of sharks as primitive fish because the had cartilage instead of bones. Turns out there was a good reason why and it makes them anything but primitive.
Loggerhead turtle populations are facing a brighter future, but many other species are still in decline, while for others there are no data at all.
AAP Image/Lauren Bath
The Great Barrier Reef is home to some 1,600 species of bony fish, 130 sharks and rays, and turtles, mammals and more. Most have had no population monitoring, meaning we don’t know how well they are faring.
A golden crispy flake and chips is a classic takeaway meal. But is it a sustainable choice?
Travis/Flickr
John Ford, The University of Melbourne et Robert Day, The University of Melbourne
Flake is great with steaming hot chips. But what fish species is it, and is it sustainable? In Australia, it’s mainly gummy shark, which is a sustainable choice. But beware poorly labelled imitations.
The stats for 2014 have been compiled and shark attacks and fatalities are down worldwide. The numbers are truly tiny. Why do we fixate on this vanishingly rare possibility?
Despite the high concentration of sharks in Cocos, some species have declined in number – a signal on the effectiveness of marine preserves.
Genna Marie Robustelli
Divers at the famed Cocos site off Costa Rica record declines in a number of shark species – a sign that marine preserves are limited protection against illegal fishing.
Marine Biologist, South African National Parks (SANParks); Honorary Research Associate, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity