Photos: MBA's Great White Shark's Snout Ground to a Pulp

flytmedic · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

Yessir, It is easy to come up with the woulda, shoulda, coulda, when you are not the one charged with the difficult decisions beforehand. Too many people appear to think modern science grows on trees, but it doesn't. Scientist need real live animals to study, so that they can make informed decisions as to the well being of the species as a whole. So yeah, I guess reading this unwarranted criticizm really does hit a nerve

ripperdoc · Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 116 Location: Tennessee

How is it helping?
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oceanboy7 · Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Olympia WA

I would like to point out that the exhibit was way too noisy. People were pounding on the glass, and more importantly, even though there was a voice recording playing over and over, asking people to not use flash when taking photos, it was almost completely ignored, and in fact there were even people shining laser pointers at the all the fish in the tank, including the White shark. I went to a volunteer and asked her to please do something about it, and she was awesome, and alerted security, but within a 20 minutes it was happening again. If the idea is to keep her stress at a minimum until she is released, why is it too much to ask people to be quiet, and to not use flash while taking photos? How about no photos? Rolling Eyes

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Jeffery

ghostbear29 · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Tucson, Az

I have to say your rambling only sounds like school yard brohaha. If you have any sense of professionalism, why not work WITH the biologists than yelling like a 3 year old. As for the photos. I personally feel alot has been doctored. I have seen 3 different sets of them and they all look different. Do I suggest that there are no wounds? no. But I think we are creating panic when their is none. I agree that we need to evaluate the needs of the shark first and not the dollars within. But I also can see that invaluble research is being done on conservation... (As if your Palegic has done anything worthwhile that everybody can recognize?) So ultimately we need to calm down and reevaluate the situation and come to an agreement on this. I do hope the Monterrey Bay Aquarists are fully aware of the responsibility they have to assure the public on this matter. I hope both parties can reach a conclusion that ultimately saves "our" white sharks as well as others while education of the general public. Thanks. Razz

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Jrasmuss · Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 4

Sean, just curious, do you have any idea what kind of research is being done while the white shark is in captivity? I've participated in some research on captive marine mammals relating back to metabolic rates. And I'm just wondering what type of research data is being collected on this shark. Obviously behaviour observed in a completely foreign enviroment creates some credibility issues. I assume not much behaviour data can be collected on a pelagic species swimming circles in an aquarium. Seems to me this situation is more about public awarness than scientific data. Curious and thought you might know Very Happy

I assume growth rate is a big one, have they released any information?

thanks!

by the way ghostbear, doesn't make sense to accuse people of school yard banter and then promptly make a dig at Pelagic...

Sean R. Van Sommeran · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:09 pm Post subject:

Ghostbear,
FYI:

The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation is an Original sponsor of Assembly bill 522 and Senate bill 144; white shark protected status in California and the first species of protected shark in the Western Hemispere, my team has tagged, tracked, DNA tissue sampled more white sharks than any other team on the continent, as well my team has worked with white sharks (both adults and juveniles) in California, offshore Mexico, South Africa, South Australia, and offshore Chile.

I know what the hell Im talking about; and you?
You dont stand a ghosts chance.

Ive coauthored 3 papers on white sharks behavior and ecology, two in the journal Marine Biology and another in the journal Pacific Science.

All of the data from Ano Nuevo Island that was featured in the Nature journal article 'extended niche for white sharks' in 2002 was generated by archival satellite trasnmitters deployed by my team.

The sharks nose is clearly injured although the it wasnt made clear in the press coverage, we had to get images of the injury, the images were not doctored at all and I have a express ticket to court/litigation to any sucka who wants to play on the allegation/assertion that the images ARE at all doctored or dishonest.

Ciao,
sean
PSRF
_________________
Sean R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director/CEO
The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
831-459-9346
831-425-2299 ext 212
psrf@pelagic.org
WWW.PELAGIC.ORG
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990

oceanboy7 · Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Olympia WA

Sean, I understand that you were not addressing me in you last post, but I certainly never meant to imply that the sharks nose was not injured, or that the pictures were doctored, or that you don't know what your talking about. I only meant to say that I was horrified when I saw these pictures the day before I was scheduled to go see her, and that when I was there, it did not look as bad, (to me), as I had thought it was going to; like maybe it was healing or I expected part of her face to be just gone. No disrespect to you or what you do was ever intended. I have nothing but respect for what you do, and I hope you understand that. Again, I am just a concerned citizen, and not one of the experts. I hope she can heal, and is released soon.

Jeffery Branham
Olympia WA
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Jeffery

Sean R. Van Sommeran · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Jeff,
Thanks so much for your clarification; it is appreciated.
Sorry if my tone took turn toward the harsh.

The photo (close up) that shows the sharks injury was taken within the past 2 weeks, it hasnt been long enough to heal; and as the images prove, the nose is injured; in fact the tip of the nose is now gone and a small cavity has developed.

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news/GWclose.jpg

The pictures show the injury very clearly.

We will be watching and documenting this sharks condition and you can rely on us to report the sharks well being as time rolls on.

Thanks for sharing your input,
Sean
PSRF
_________________
Sean R. Van Sommeran
Executive Director/CEO
The Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
831-459-9346
831-425-2299 ext 212
psrf@pelagic.org
WWW.PELAGIC.ORG
Santa Cruz California
Since 1990

ScubaKathleen79 · Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 1 Location: St. Louis, Missouri

I've been reading all of the posts here, I am very interested in Marine Biology and Conservation. I go diving often and am usually one of the few in my group that try only to observe and not touch/effect the creatures and their environment. Each year I try to go to a new aquarium, I was planning on going back to the Monterey Bay Aquarium this year to see the Great White. However, I'm torn between seeing this great creature for myself, forming my own opinion and the fact that I believe that she should be returned to her natural habitat. They are to wild and should be free. Look at the great distances that they travel in the wild and shes confined to this small aquarium.(I know it's large compared to other aquariums but no where near that of the Open Sea) I understand the Aquariums role and I know that I am not yet qualified to make the decisions that they have to make regarding her health. However, strongly dissagree with her continued captivity and I will not be back to the Monterey Bay Aquarium until the Sharks Relase and if she dies as a result of her captivity at the aquarium I may never return.
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jester · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:57 am Post subject:

Im more of a friday afternoon quater back and nothing would give greater plesure than watching the great MBA staff release the GW

Cheers Jester.
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hivvergirl · Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Arlington, Texas

I truly believe that this is a sad thing going on with the injured great white. She is a beautiful shark and she deserves to be free. I am no expert, I am studying funeral directing, which has nothing to do with the water, but it is a great love of mine. The pictures show that she is hurt, and the lights and noises are surely stressing her even more. So if looking at the outside isn't enough to let her go, then just think of how scared and stressed she must be. She belongs in the ocean, NOT IN AN AQUARIUM! How many sharks are going to die before the zoo stops this madness?

Hivvergirl

Jrasmuss · Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 4

"Cailliet says aquarium staffers suspect the shark maneuvers differently, depending on which person is feeding her. "They're convinced the shark can see through the water-air interface and actually discern each person who's feeding her.''"

This is a quote from a recent SF Chronicle article. Interesting that they (MBA) think the shark recognizes the people feeding her. That's all we need, a white shark that equates the site of people with food! On top of that most juevenille white sharks seem to migrate close to shore. What are we setting our selves up for here??

squidpuncher · Joined: 31 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

RELEASED!!!

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/breaking_news/11277885.htm

oceanboy7 · Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Olympia WA

It feels good to know that she is freely moving in her world again. I just hope the injuries that she sustained will heal, and she will have a long and happy life. It was amazing to see her, but I hope that it does not happen again. She is where she belongs.
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Jeffery

imagines · Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Posts: 1

http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/whiteshark.asp