In late March and early April this year, researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands teamed up with fishers, conservationists and scientists in Guinea-Bissau to catch, study, sample and release more than 50 sharks and rays off the coast of the West African country. The team, which included experts from the Guinea-Bissau-based Institute […]
Tag: stingray
Spiny dogfish or spurdog shark has venom in its spine that can be fatal to humans
The UK is home to a poisonous shark that has venom in its spine and can cause serious harm to humans. Living in the River Thames is a breed of shark known as the Spiny Dogfish – aka Spurdog shark. The shark gets its name from the spines in front of its dorsal fin, which it […]
DNA test helps officials spot dodgy shark shipments
A multi-national research team has developed a rapid DNA identification method to help customs inspectors detect illegally traded wildlife products, beginning with sharks. The DNA testing protocol, published last month, detects nine of 12 commonly traded shark species quickly enough to enable officials to determine whether a shipment requires further inspection. These sharks have small […]
Man dies after stingray attack while swimming near Hobart
A 42-year-old man has died of a heart attack after apparently being stung by a stingray while swimming off the Tasmania coast, police said. Attempts to resuscitate the man, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Saturday afternoon in the waters at Lauderdale beach, east of Hobart, were unsuccessful, police said. “He was removed from the […]
Longline fisheries in Costa Rica hook tens of thousands of sea turtles every year
Hundreds of kilometers of commercial fishing lines slither along coastal waters in Costa Rica, hooking thousands of mahi-mahi and many other marketable fish. But when scientists scrutinized fishermen’s catch, they were shocked by the staggering number of sea turtles accidentally snagged on the lines. A study published Aug. 20 in the Journal of Experimental Marine […]
Mexican Stingrays: Stranded or Discarded?
The news is buzzing with stories about more than 250 stingrays that have stranded on beaches in the Mexican state of Veracruz three days ago. Mass strandings of any animal are analyzed carefully to determine if the strandings are indicators of environmental health. However, in the case of the stingrays, foul play is suspected by […]