A tribute to Ralph S. Collier

There are moments in life were one has to sit down and travel back down memory lane, remembering special events. This usually happens when one receives some sad news. Today was one of those days. I have just received the news that a dear friend and Shark research colleague, Ralph S. Collier passed away last night (17th. Feb. 2026).

Ralph and I have been friends for some 30 years and during this time, we have shared loads of information about shark incidents and shark conservation. We have also been a shoulder to each other as we dealt with and shared personal issues. When I first put up my website on line in 1997, Ralph was one of the very first Shark researchers I interviewed. That interview can be found here.

Ralph S. Collier was a pioneer in Shark and humans interaction research. His investigation work and studies in Shark attacks led to the discovery of a lot of data and knowledge that we know today. As Director of the Global Shark Attack File, he did his utmost to find out the facts about shark attacks and change the negative image portrayed by the media. 

Ralph was also Founder / President of the Shark Research Committee. He also provided accurate and factual data to the scientific communities. He also published numerous research papers and articles. His book, Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century; from the Pacific Coast of North America published in 2003 is a comprehensive analysis of 108 shark attacks that occurred between 1900 and 1999.

Ralph's knowledge of shark/human interactions made him as #1 consultant on many shark documentaries on Animal Planet, National Geographic and Discovery Channel amongst others. Shark Week will never be the same without Ralph S. Collier.

Rest in peace my dear friend. Gonna miss you..... and thank you for always supporting my work.

300th. Megamouth Shark found dead in Peru.

 Reports just in that a partially decomposed Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) was discovered on a deserted beach between  Playa Gaviotas and Yacila, Piura region of Northern Peru, on Wednesday 17th December. Researchers measured the shark at 447cm. 

This is the 300th record of Megamouth sharks since they were first discovered in 1976. It is also the 13th specimen from Peru and the second one in 4 weeks. In November 2025, another Megamouth was discovered in the same region and  local fishermen “filleted the specimen for sudado and ceviche”, two traditional dishes in the country.

More info about all the 300 Megamouth Sharks can be found at Sharkman's world/ Megamouth Shark

Megamouth shark #295

 On Wednesday 29th. January 2025, a Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) from Tsushimashi, Nagasaki prefecture, Japan. Photos show a Female of circa 500cm. Report says the shark was found caught in net and released alive. 

                                         

Whilst being the first from this area, this is the 31st record for Japan. This brings the total of Megamouths known to 295 since their first discovery in 1976 in Hawaii. 

My thanks to Numaguchi Asako for the report.

 Full details of all records can be seen at https://www.sharkmans-world.org/The-Megamouth-Shark/

UPDATE
30th Jan. 2025.  Although the Shark was released, it was found dead in the bay the next day. Nagasaki University recovered the shark for further study. Video link https://youtu.be/bUNZkEQuu7c

Conservation Measures Give Positive Results.

Over the years that I have been involved in Shark conservation, I always insisted that no matter how small the measures achieved, they do leave positive results. Some might say that protecting a shark species in one area, does nothing as that shark might easily be caught some place else. Whilst that could be true, it also adds to the urgency to protect endangered species in as many places as possible.

Since the discovery of the Megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) was made in Hawaii in 1976, I have been keeping records of all known specimens caught or encountered around the world. This is not an easy task as I know that not all catches get to be reported especially those from the Asian continent.... but thank God, things are changing.

Up until I write this, the list of known Megamouths stands at 246. Of these, only 28 sharks survived the encounter and swam happily away. The other 218 ended up either consumed, buried or put on display is some museum. You can find my full list here.

The country with the highest number of Megamouth catches is Taiwan. They are responsible for 152 catches out of which, only 4 were released alive. That is a shocking 61% of all known specimens. It was for this reason that EAST(Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan) and Ocean Conservation and Fishery Sustainability Foundation (TOFF)  last year launched a campaign to put pressure on the government (fishery agency) to protect the Megamouth Shark. They also joined forces with fisheries to promote the catch and release initiative to facilitate the tagging of megamouth sharks for scientific research, with support from the Carrefour Foundation.


This campaign also got the support of other international entities, including Sharkman's World, that wrote to the Taiwanese government backing requests for stringent regulations to protect these endangered sharks.


Finally on November 10th. 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.


This conservation measure had positive results when two days ago, a Hualien-registered vessel caught a shark in their gill nets whilst fishing 2.77 nautical miles off the coast. The boat captain immediately ordered his crew to release the shark as soon as possible. The operation to untangle the shark lasted around 90 minutes and finally the estimated 4m female megamouth shark was set free. A crew member managed to film the release.


After being informed of the news, Carrefour Foundation CEO Marilyn Su pledged to donate a NT $5,000 voucher to the captain of the vessel as a reward for their actions. Deputy Chief Executive Yu-Min Chen donated several cases of drinks to the fishermen to celebrate the release, praising the crew for their conservation efforts.

I hope that these new regulations will remain properly enforced.

My thanks to EAST for the translation of the reports. Great work from all those involved.

European Citizens Must Unite To Stop Finning!

 Back in 2007 a group of NGOs from all over Europe got together under the banner of The Shark Alliance and started talks with the EU fisheries commission to close all the loopholes in the 2003 shark finning ban regulations. That year, The Shark Alliance presented over 20,000 signatures to the EU Commission asking for better regulations. 

In 2008, we continued to campaign for better Shark regulations and a total stop to shark finning. We also presented over 100,000 signatures to the EU commission.

In 2009 the EU Fisheries Commissioner released the "Plan of Action for Sharks". This was the first sign that the EU was listening to what the people wanted.

In 2010, the proposal for the ending of all finning at sea was made and this was endorsed by the Council of Ministers.

In 2011, Shark Alliance members meet and proposed the "Fins Naturally Attached - With No Exceptions" campaign.

In Spring of 2012 Parliament’s Environment Committee endorsed the proposal but Fisheries committee had some opposition. The debates were lengthy but finally, in November 2012, the European Parliament voted 566 to 47 in favour of ensuring that all sharks are landed fins naturally attached without exception. The amendments we supported were passed and those we opposed were soundly defeated. The road to victory was a hard one, but at the end, after 6 long years, we did it!

As it stands now, since 2012, the so-called “Fins Naturally Attached” regulation of the European Union prohibits without exception the storage, transhipment and landing of all shark fins in EU waters and on all EU ships. The fins must remain naturally attached to the carcass when the ship is unloaded in port. The fins can then be separated from the animal and exported to Asia.

It is now time to take further action. As of 2012, EU citizens have had the right to apply directly to the European Commission.  The Stop Finning EU Organization has initiated the European Citizens’ Initiative in order to propose a concrete legislative amendment, a total ban on the shark finning trade! To do this, your support is needed. If you are a European citizen, click here and vote now. 

SHARKS NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

IMPORTANT NEWS

Due to serious personal and health issues, this blog has not been updated for a few years. I will try to start doing regular updates as much as possible. Here is the first important news. 

Sharkman's World and Sharklab-Malta have always believed that collaboration is the most powerful of tools. It is through this that Sharkman's World website is now officially integrating years of precious and important research and information into the Sharklab-Malta website. 

Sharklab-Malta and I will continue to work side by side as we have since the beginning to collectively make a difference. 

As of today, the official new link is: Sharkman’s World – Sharklab-Malta (https://sharklab-malta.org/sharkmans-world/)

European Parliament Votes at Last for Stronger Shark Finning Ban

Long-fought decision was last major hurdle on path to closing EU loopholes

Strasbourg, France (November 22, 2012): The Shark Alliance welcomes the European Parliament’s vote to close loopholes in the European Union ban on shark finning, the practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea. After years of debate, 566 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favor of a report endorsing the European Commission’s proposal to require that fins be left naturally attached to all sharks that are brought to port.

“Parliament’s vote represents a major milestone in the global effort to end the wasteful practice of shark finning,” said Sandrine Polti, EU shark policy adviser for the Pew Environment Group and policy adviser for the Shark Alliance. “Our diverse coalition has been working toward this and other fundamental reforms in European shark policies for more than six years and is thrilled with today’s vote and the progress we expect to stem from it.”

The 2003 EU regulation that banned finning included an exception under which fishermen with permits can remove shark fins on board and then land them separately from the  bodies. Compliance is monitored through a complicated process of measuring and comparing the weights of the fins with the weight of the whole shark, which leaves significant room for undetected finning.

The European Parliament called for improvements in the EU finning ban in 2006 and urged the commission in 2010 to propose an end to at-sea shark fin removal. The commission’s proposal, released in November 2011, was endorsed by the Council of Ministers and the Parliament’s Environment Committee in the spring of 2012. The Parliament’s Fisheries Committee deliberations have been lengthy and at times confused, with several MEPs fighting hard to maintain loopholes.

“We congratulate the European Commission for leadership in this long effort and extend our gratitude to the 25 EU Fisheries Ministers and hundreds of MEPs who supported a stronger EU finning ban, as well as the tens of thousands of European citizens who encouraged them to do so,” Polti said.

“Shark Alliance member groups look forward to continued cooperation in shepherding and promoting a final ‘fins-attached’ rule and in securing complementary safeguards, such as domestic and international catch limits, to fully address the overexploitation of sharks.”

___________________________________

Martin Clark

EU Coordinator for the Shark Alliance

www.sharkalliance.org

(+44 (0) 7880 565 393 (mobile); +44 (0) 207 254 0280 (office)

8 martin_clark.1@virgin.net

___________________________________


Sharkman's comment.  The Shark Alliance has been working on this campaign for over 6 years. Sharkman's World Organization has been a member of the alliance since 2007. It is great to see that finally our hard work has paid off. 

In 2007, The Shark Alliance presented over 20,000 signatures to the EU Commission asking for better regulations. 

2007 - Shark Alliance members outside EU Commission in Brussels.

2007 - Over 20,000 signatures handed over to the EU Commission.

In 2008 the Shark Alliance continues to campaign for better Shark regulations and a total stop to shark finning.
Over 100,000 signatures where again presented to the commission.

2009 the EU Fisheries Commissioner releases the "Plan of Action for Sharks". This was the first sign that the EU was listening to what the people wanted.

2009 - Shark Alliance members with EU Commissioner Joe Borg.

.In 2010, the proposal for the ending of all finning at sea was made and this was endorsed by the Council of Ministers.

In 2011, Shark Alliance members meet and propose the "Fins Naturally Attached - With No Exceptions" campaign.

2011- Shark Alliance initiate the "Fins Naturally Attached - With No Exceptions."

In Spring of 2012 Parliament’s Environment Committee endorsed the proposal but Fisheries committee had some opposition. The debates were lengthy and at times very confusing  but finally, yesterday European Parliament voted 566 to 47 in favour of ensuring that all sharks are landed fins naturally attached without exception. The amendments we supported were passed and those we opposed were soundly defeated.

Once again, the road to victory was a long and hard one, but at the end, we did it!

My thanks goes out to all my fellow members at the Shark Alliance and especially to the steering committee. To all the MEP's and Ministers that supported and voted for our sharks. To all the thousands that signed our petitions and to everyone that helped make the possible. 

God bless you all.

Shark Powered

The Sharkman.

Handover of European Shark Week Books

As part of the Shark Alliance on going campaign for shark conservation, four Maltese NGOs, (Nature Trust Malta, Greenhouse, Sharklab Malta and Sharkman's World Organization), handed over European Shark Week books to Malta's Shadow Minister, Leo Brincat, and to Fisheries Director, Joseph Caruana.

The event was held in June at St. Thomas More Primary School in Marsascala. The school children showed much interest in sharks and their conservation during the previous months and had also made an exhibition of drawings. They also made a large shark, on which everyone present at the ceremony, including Mr. Caruana, left their hand print to show support.

Sharkman interviews Lill Haugen

She is Norway's #1 Underwater photographer and one of the best in the World. She is a Shark lover, Researcher and Conservationist. She is my Friend... the charismatic Lill Haugen.

Read about the interview I did with her on my website at SHARKMAN'S WORLD

Sharkman's World is Back

Following an absence of nearly two years, Sharkman's World is back on line on a new and stronger server.
The new url is now http://www.sharkmans-world.eu

The site will feature all the all the old favourite topics and to kick it all off, There is an interview with the pioneer of Shark Diving Trips and also President of the U.S. Shark Foundation, GARY ADKISON

Enjoy.