The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted overwhelmingly not to reopen pelagic longline fishing on the west coast of the United States. Pelagic longlining is a harmful fishing method that has been prohibited off the West Coast for decades and that have been to linked excessive bycatch of unintended species including marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, … Read more
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to ban the U.S. shark fin trade. The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 737), which was introduced by Reps. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-M.P.) and Michael McCaul (R-T.X.), was passed by the House Natural Resources Committee in September and was cosponsored by 287 representatives at … Read more
Whale sharks are often called the “gentle giants” of the sea – and for good reason. Though they are the largest fish on Earth, with some individuals growing to the size of a school bus, they snack exclusively on small prey such as plankton, crustaceans and squid. Thanks in part to their remarkable size and … Read more
How is Oceana collaborating with Discovery? Discovery and Oceana are teaming up to help protect sharks threatened by a global shark fin trade that includes fins from as many as 73 million sharks each year. Through campaigns that educate and inspire, Oceana is raising awareness on why healthy oceans need sharks. Funds raised for Oceana … Read more
Canada, following a significant grassroots effort by Oceana, became the first G20 country to ban the import and export of shark fins. The practice of shark finning has been illegal in Canadian waters for years; however, Canada was the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia. Oceana’s campaign generated more than 300,000 petition signatures … Read more
Today, a modernized Fisheries Act became law, setting the stage for rebuilding fish abundance in Canada’s oceans. For the first time since its inception in 1868, rebuilding plans are now required for depleted fish populations. The Act also ends the import and export of shark fins in Canada. These changes, among others, unlock tremendous potential … Read more
The whitetip reef shark is a slim, medium-sized shark characterized by its white-tipped dorsal and tail fins that give this species its name. Whitetip reef sharks are known for using their slender bodies to maneuver through caves and crevices throughout their coral reef habitats in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The whitetip reef shark is … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.