Critically endangered scalloped hammerheads gather in seas off Perth. They need protection

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:53:18 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/critically-endangered-scalloped-hammerheads-gather-in-seas-off-perth-they-need-protection-213258>

"Unlike nearly every other species of shark, scalloped hammerheads are highly
social. They gather in large groups, or aggregations, numbering in the
hundreds. But why? We don’t know.

With the help of drones, we now know a bit more. In our new research, we
describe finding a location in a marine park off the coast of Perth where
juvenile scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) gather in numbers.

Scalloped hammerheads – one of ten species in the hammerhead family – prefer
warm waters. But they have become regular visitors to the waters off Perth in
summer, now the southernmost part of their range. The sharks are not considered
dangerous to humans.

These iconic sharks are among the world’s most threatened species due to
over-fishing. And incredibly they are still legally fished in Australia,
despite their populations falling by 80% in just 55 years.

They are in danger unless we protect them."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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