Shark Population

I read this article today about the declining shark population. Hopefully they are declining at our pier!Shark Populations Plummet


The global population of sharks and rays in the high seas has fallen by more than 70% in the last 50 years, according to a study published yesterday. The researchers estimate almost three-quarters of the 31 species of pelagic sharks and rays—those that roam the open ocean—are at risk of extinction, up from one-third in 1980. Overfishing is noted as the primary cause for the decline, with the species not only targeted but often inadvertently caught as bycatch. The smooth hammerhead was the only species to see a population rise.
The researchers surveyed global data for sharks using 57 previous studies and datasets. They estimate the losses could be even deeper, as mass fishing started before population charting began in 1970. It is estimated more than 100 million sharks are killed by humans each year.
The good news? There is evidence of conservation efforts helping some localized populations rebound.

The Gulf Coast, and more specifically the area around the pier seems to be one of those "rebounding areas", unless things have changed greatly in the last year. We would even see them cruising up and down the beach in shallow water when we were surf fishing. Not big sharks, but between 2 and 4 feet long. One of my pomps was taste tested... I didn't need any help in assessing the edibility kog my catch.

Perhaps a year of no feeding has led them to find better haunts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by midwestexile

Perhaps a year of no feeding has led them to find better haunts.

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'Tis an ill wind, that blows no good.

Those people the kill 100 million sharks each year are probably the same people that drive SUVs and cause global warming.

Well, I guess I must be inclined to comment. Having spent a relative few years writing plans for the CDC before full retirement(if there is such a thing), I must say that "studies" must be viewed with a jaundiced eye especially when coming out of universities, government think tanks, or commercial organizations. This study done by Canadian and British universities make the observation that these populations have declined over the past seventy years, and while I have no reason to question their integrity(admittedly, I give them more credibility than most liberal arts American universities), I have to ask: Just who was counting sharks in the 1950's?
It's quite obvious these folks don't fish in salt water.
Just sayin'.

Probably done by the same people who say red snapper are extinct and in need of more restrictions while Cobia are over abundant and open for catching.

NO sharks were seen around the pier opening day that I heard of.
Flipper brought a young'n and they terrorized the shallows for a little while.
Some loons were around too.

That will change as soon as the water warms up menu changes. The sharks just follow their favorite foods, a lot like me.

Sure, there will be some sharks around. Likely even plentiful at times.
But I'm not so sure they will hang around the pier like they would when the 'chum line' was getting their interest.

Pelicans either for that matter.
Some, sure. But not swimming around the platform waiting for scraps.
And not lined up on the rail pooping their lil tails off ;-)