Not just Shark
Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and
chimaera's from around the world. It began as a simple web based
field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter
different species of sharks and rays but it has slowly evolved into
a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark
diving and photography. There are now more than a thousand shark
pictures and sections on shark evolution, biology, and
conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a
constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark
links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and
stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to
check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on
an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:
If you're looking for a
broader range of marine life pictures the following links represent
a new area that contains pictures on other marine organisms and on
marine habitats. This expansion of Elasmodiver is in its first
stages but will eventually include pages on everything from sea
stars to nudibranchs. Creating this portal will take time and for
now it consists of a token offering of fish pictures. Please return
regularly to enjoy the progress.
Bruce Wright
created the Alaska Shark Assessment Program in response to many reports, mostly
from fishermen, that sharks abundances in the north Pacific Ocean are at the
highest levels ever observed. Hosted by the
Conservation Science Institute.
The BBFS Sharklab is a
world famous facility owned and operated by renowned shark biologist, Dr. Samuel
H. Gruber. The Sharklab is dedicated to the research and conservation of sharks,
and the ecosystems in which they are a part of.
Cedric Tisserand's site aiming to compile information on conservation, species
taxonomy, tagging programs, biology, disease and treatment, and related
subjects.
The GEERG website contains in-depth information and exclusive
footage of the Greenland shark as well as other species inhabiting Canadian
waters. GEERG has repeatedly managed to locate this elusive species and compile
valuable information that will hopefully lead to a greater understanding of its
habits and vulnerability.
The ISAF is a
compilation of all known shark attacks that is administered by the American
Elasmobranch Society and the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The NSRC
projects
involve NMFS-related research activities required for assessing the status of
shark stocks, managing U.S. shark fisheries, and helping the U.S. take the
leading role in worldwide conservation and management of shark populations.
The PSRC at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
conducts both basic and applied scientific research on the biology of Pacific
Ocean chondrichthyans, serves as a resource center for scientific information on
sharks to public policy makers, and participates in collaborative research on
national and international issues involving shark, ray, and chimaera biology.
PSRF is primarily
involved in gathering data on sharks that occur in and around Monterey Bay and
San Francisco Bay. Besides providing tagging data important for assessing the
abundance, distribution and migratory patterns of sharks, PSRF is researching
and contributing to research which documents their behavior, biology and
ecology.
One of the most comprehensive shark sites on the
internet. ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research is dedicated to shark and ray
conservation through its scientific research and public education programs. The
Centre maintains research equipment and facilities, reference collections of
fossil and extant elasmobranch specimens, a scientific library, elasmobranch
databases, and public education materials. ReefQuest data collection
centres around seal island in South Africa wher they maintain an ongoing white
shark tagging and research program.
(SSG) and its regional shark specialist groups
are composed of elasmobranch specialists willing to donate their time in
identifying the problems associated with the maintenance of elasmobranch stocks
in their regions. They also propose recommendations regarding fishing quotas and CITIES
listings.
The Shark Research Committee's
primary goal was to assist the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) in
documenting shark attacks from the Pacific Coast of North America. Broadened to
include conducting original research on the general biology, behavior and
ecology of sharks indigenous to waters off the Pacific Coast of North America,
with particular emphasis on potentially dangerous species.
Promotes conservation and awareness
and conducts expedition based research on various shark species. Maintains a
tagging program in Utila to study whalesharks, in which sport divers are invited
to participate.
Website of Shark Researcher Neil Hammerschlag. Neil's website is designed to
encourage dialog between researchers, students and educators, the media,
conservationists, and shark junkies. It contains information on research
programs that he and others are involved in, conservation information, and a
gallery of Neil's shark photographs.
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation is a grass roots, non
profit organization of recreational divers who regularly conduct fish
biodiversity and abundance surveys during their dives.
The International Shark Attack File headed by George Burgess. Contains
archival information on all reported attacks and useful insights into how to
avoid attack. The attack analysis is a very useful tool.
Info on recent attacks (needs updating), a graphic section on victims, an
extensive links section, free email, shark images, shark paraphernalia and more.
An international organization that studies shark populations and
works with shark fishermen to promote sustainable practices. Instrumental in
limiting catch quotas in Mexico. The creators of the Adopt a Shark Program -
adoptashark.com.
IUCN is
responsible for the compilation of the red list; an index of threatened species
currently including over 12000 species! An extract from the list
showing the elasmobranchs that have been included is available
here.
Defenders of the oceans. Captain Paul Watson's
organization dedicated to stopping illegal fishing. Sea Shepherd has a ship
stationed in the Pacific, specifically commissioned with the job of disrupting
the illegal longline fishing of sharks off the islands of the Galapagos and
Cocos Island. Please lend your support.
Offers trips to see Great White Sharks up close in their natural
environment in two locations: The largest White Sharks in the world at the
Farallon Islands, and Isla de Guadalupe where the water is crystal clear and GWA
has a 100% success record.
Jim
Abernethy runs high quality charters to the outer reefs of the Bahamas
in search of Great Hammerheads and Tiger sharks. Their trips are the best in the
world for outside the cage action with big sharks. Also included on many of
their trips is the chance to see Bull, Lemon, Dusky, Caribbean Reef, Silky, and
Nurse Sharks. Highly recommended
Dive operator in Southwest
Rocks, NSW. Goes to Fish Rock to dive with banded, dwarf ornate and spotted
wobbegongs as well as grey nurse sharks, shark rays and more.
Rodney Fox is a famous
spear fisherman and shark attack victim turned shark watcher. Rodney now runs
white shark cage diving trips out of Southern Australia.
A great site full of info on
sharks of the north east coastal area. Although this site is structured for
fishing enthusiasts it has excellent general information for shark nuts.
A large site (in Italian) by shark fanatic Ricardo Sturla Avogadri featuring
hundreds of pictures of sharks, fossil teeth, shark models, shark books and
comics, movies, memorabilia, and much more.
An
awesome quarterly magazine specifically for the shark diving enthusiast. Subscribe
now! The website contains information on recent shark sightings, upcoming
expeditions, and a message forum.
An index of marine species from the North Eastern Pacific
Region. This site is maintained by Photographer Andy Murch and is permanently under construction.
New species are added whenever possible.
A
leader in the field of submersibles. Innovators of manned submersibles
with an incomparable range of visibility due to their spherical acrylic
design.
