August 8, 2014
Ocean News: Sharks Seized from Poachers in the Gulf of Mexico, Elusive Jellyfish Makes Rare Appearance, and More
– It turns out that sharks may be confusing surfers for birds, according to a study that examined a previous deadly shark attack. That study found that the motions made by kite surfers puts them at particular risk. Discovery News
– For the first time in 70 years, a massive Drymonema dalmatinum jellyfish has been spotted in the Adriatic Sea. This elusive jellyfish is one of the rarest in the Mediterranean, and scientists still no very little about it. The Telegraph
– A new study is shedding light on population dynamics in whale sharks. According to this genetically-based study, whale sharks saw a huge population increase before recent declines, and whale sharks around the world are largely divided into two populations. Discovery News
– Earlier this week, the U.S. Coast Guard seized 153 sharks from Mexican poachers in the Gulf of Mexico, not far from Mexico’s border. Many of the sharks were on long lines and able to be released. Beaumont Enterprise
Long Read:
– Fracking operations are becoming more common offshore, even though the practice is still deemed controversial on land. Officials say that the impacts of offshore fracking on marine life and water quality are still largely unknown and understudied. Bloomberg