Fishermen Land Rarest Shark— Then Eat it

Endangered species conference labeled 'a disaster for conservation'

(NEWSER) - Conservationists were left fuming yesterday after a UN conference on endangered species failed to win protection for a single marine species. Asian nations, led by Japan, defeated efforts to restrict trade in coral, sharks, and bluefin tuna. The one species to be given protected status, the porbeagle shark, had its status revoked on the last day of the conference after Asian nations reopened debate. More»

New study finds sharks much closer to extinction

(NEWSER) - Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...it probably is. Great White sharks are now even more endangered than tigers, according to a new study. Researchers who tagged and tracked the sharks determined that their numbers have fallen below those of the 3,500 tigers estimated to still exist in the wild, the Telegrap h reports. Their number has dropped an estimated 90% in 20 years. More»

Marine life threatened in oxygen-starved portion of bay

(NEWSER) - High nutrient pollution levels have caused the Chesapeake Bay's underwater "dead zone" to expand unusually quickly this year: It covers a third of the bay and will likely become the bay's largest-ever area of oxygen-starved water. The dead zone, which sucks oxygen from deep waters and kills any marine life that can't escape it, stretched from the Baltimore Harbor to the bay's mid-channel region in June, a distance of about 83 miles. It has only grown since then, the Washington Post reports. More»

Treasure trove of strange new creatures discovered by scientists

(NEWSER) - No, it's not a pool toy. Researchers have discovered a new species of inflatable shark, along with more than 300 other previously unknown varieties of creatures dwelling in the Philippines. Among the finds: the shrimp-eating shark that fills itself with water to inflate and scare off predators; dozens of new insects, spiders, and armored corals; and more than 50 brightly colored sea slugs, reports LiveScience . More»

(NEWSER) - Tiger sharks are known for eating anything—including metal junk, other sharks, and people—but the Long Beach Aquarium seems to have landed the world's choosiest one, the Los Angeles Times reports. The new arrival, one of very few tiger sharks in captivity in the US, regularly turns up its snout at restaurant grade steak, tuna, and lobster, causing headaches for staffers trying to choose from more than 30 menu items. More»