The Sharkman meets Chi-Ju Yu (a.k.a. Debbie)

 

My shark research shows that Taiwan has the highest amount of Megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) records. This is thanks to the complete catch and report system introduced in 2013.  Due to this, in 2020, the Fisheries Agency and the Council of Agriculture (FACOA) issued a directive prohibiting the capture of Great White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) and Megamouth sharks. (see here). One scientific researcher and friend, involved in collecting and recording such data is Chi-Ju Yu (a.k.a. Debbie).

Click here to read an interview I have just had with Debbie. 

More Megamouth Sharks reported.

 A few days ago, this video clip showing a snorkeler swimming with a Megamouth Shark was released on the web and made News worldwide.

On further investigation I found out that this news bit was only the tip of the ice berg. The story started towards the last week of May, when Bethany Smith travelled from UK to Taiwan, in search of the elusive Megachasma pelagios  (Megamouth Shark). In Taiwan, Bethany met with Shark researcher Chi-Ju Yu (Debbie) and Underwater Videographer Zola Chen. Together they joined two local fishermen on their boats, with the hope that they can find and tag a Megamouth Shark.

In the first five trips spread over a two week period, they had no Megamouths. On the 3rd. of June, their luck changed and they had two sharks in the nets. The first was a female of approx. 4m and the second was a male of around 3.5m. Debbie and the fisherman quickly tagged and released both sharks as Zola filmed the moment.

Four days later, on the 7th. of June, Bethany was joined by Zola on her last trip, While the nets were being pulled up, a huge 5m female was found. The two went into the water to release the shark. This was the moment captured in the above video by Zola. It is believed that this Megamouth Shark was again caught in the nets a few minutes later and released again! 

For someone who was hoping to find 1 shark, Bethany, Debbie & Zola discovered and helped save 3 Megamouths within 4 days of the 3 week adventure.

And that is not all!

Whilst researching the above, I found out that sometime during May, another 5 Megamouths were tagged and released by the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI).  Data about these sharks is currently withheld.

This brings the total number of recorded Megamouths to 294, of which 166 are from Taiwan.

It is worth remembering that in November 2020, the Taiwanese authorities enacted laws that totally protect the Megamouth Shark. The restrictions require that all Megamouths caught in Taiwanese waters are to be returned to the sea, regardless of whether or not they are alive when caught. Fishing operators must report any catches to authorities on returning to port.

Shark Incidents in 2023.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) report issued by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the number of "unprovoked" Shark incidents for 2023 is below the average for the last 10 years, but the number of fatalities increased slightly for the same period.

During 2023, the ISAF reported 69 unprovoked incidents. This number is slightly less than the average of 73 for the previous ten years. There were 10 fatalities last year, and this is a slight increase on the average 6 for the same period.

As is the trend, the U.S.A. tops the list with 36 reported incidents. Two of those were fatal. Australia reported 15 incidents 4 of which were fatal. Egypt, New Caledonia, Mexico and the Bahamas each reported one fatality.

I have been keeping records since 1990 and to date, there have been 2189 incidents of which 208 were fatal. That is 9.5%. When one considers the millions of people swimming and the thousands swimming with Sharks on a daily bases, these numbers are minimal. This chart shows the trend.

Considering that humans kill over 80 million sharks every year, it is the sharks that need to fear us, not the other way round. 

More megamouth sharks records discovered.

 Following the discovery of the mama Megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) last week (read here), more records have been recovered. Mama Megamouth was at first reported as being specimen #279 has now been renumbered to #284.

During research I was doing following the three strandings in the Philippines last week, data was passed on to me about another 4 records from the Philippines that i was not aware of. These 4 records were from April 2013, June 2015, November 2020 and July 2021. I also discovered a second stranding in South Africa in November 2009.

South Africa in November 2009.

As more records of catches and strandings are reported, the need for protection for this species becomes nore urgent.

Stranded Megamouth Shark was about to give birth.

  14th. November 2023.

I have just received news and photos of a Megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) that was found dead stranded on a beach in  Barangay Ipil, Dipaculao Aurora, Philippines. This female Megamouth was pregnant and was giving birth In fact, one pup was discovered next to her another 6 pups were discovered inside her.

As details are still coming in, this is already a huge discovery as it will give us more data especially about birth sizes and breeding grounds.

This is the third Megamouth Shark found within a week in the Philippines. The two other discoveries were reported from Negros and Hinunangan, all sharks were dead. This brings the total of known records to 279.

Shark sighted off Delimara point, Malta.

 Friday 13th. October 2023.

The Malta Daily published a video clip and report of a Shark sighting off Delimara point on the south east coast of Malta. Spme fishermen encountered and filmed a large shark as it swam past their boat.

I was contacted by the news agency and was asked to identify the shark. At first glance, everyone was thinking that this was a Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), but the video footage published online was not very clear. 

After managing to obtain a copy of the original HD footage,  and consulting with fellow shark biologist  Ian Fergusson, who specialises in Mediterranean white sharks, we both agree that this wasd a Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). 

Ian also pointed out that while this shark bears many characteristics of a white shark, the clear frames of the rounded apex to pectoral fin; the pelvic fin & caudal peduncle lean more to this being a particularly large Isurus oxyrinchus.

The footage indicates that this shortfin Mako measures to about 4m. It is very rare that such sharks are seen so close inshore. These sharks are protected under Maltese laws.

Megamouth Sharks #271 and #272 sighted off San Diego, California.

 Two Megamouth Sharks (Megachasma pelagios) were sighted swimming at the surface, some thirty miles north-west of the coast of San Diego, California on Sunday morning.

Speaking in a TV interview, Andrew Chang, owner of the charter boat, said that he was out with some fishing clients when at around noon, they sighted two fins swimming slowly at the surface. The two sharks came close to the boat and it was here that they were positively IDed as Megamouth Sharks.

Video footage clearly identifies one of the sharks as a male. According to Mr. Chang,  one shark, probably the male, was slightly smaller than the other. They estimated the lengths as between 12 to 15 feet. The sharks stayed around for about ten minutes.

These two sharks are Megamouths #271 and #272  to be recorded in my database. This brings the total of Megamouths from the USA to 17.