THE SHARK BLOG
SHARKWATER
Sharkwater is a 2007 Canadian documentary film written and directed by Rob Stewart, who also narrates it. In the film, Stewart seeks to deflate current attitudes about sharks, and exposes how the voracious shark-hunting industry is driving them to extinction.
Filmed in high definition video, Sharkwater explores the densest shark populations in the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption of the shark-hunting industry in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Stewart travels with Paul Watson and his Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as they confront shark poachers in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Among the group’s experiences are boat chases with poachers and police, boat ramming, hidden camera footage of massive shark finning facilities, corrupt court systems and eventually attempted murder charges which force Stewart and Watson to flee from the police. Stewart explores how the increasing demand for shark-fin soup in Asia is fueling an illegal trade in sharks. His expedition is cut short, however, when he is diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis (from which he recovers).
Stewart discovers that sharks have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the Earth’s history of mass extinctions, as well as being a predator that prevents the overconsumption of plankton by other fish, thereby moderating global warming, they could easily be wiped out within a few years.
The film has won eight major awards and been nominated an additional three times.[1]
Awards
Sharkwater has received 33 international awards.
- Canada’s Top Ten : Toronto International Film Festival
- People’s Choice : Atlantic International Film Festival
- People’s Choice : Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Best Documentary : Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Spirit of Independents Award : Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Special Jury Award : Hawaii International Film Festival
- Best Musical Composition : France World Festival of Underwater Pictures
- Prix Planete Thalassa : France World Festival of Underwater Pictures
- Best of the Festival Palm Springs : International Film Festival
- Best International Doc : Beverly Hills Hi-Def Festival
- Best HD Feature : AFI Dallas International Film Festival
- Audience Choice Award for Best Feature : Gen Art Film Festival
- Grand Jury Award for Best Feature : Gen Art Film Festival
- Peter Benchley Shark Conservation Award : Shark Research Institute
- Special Jury Award : 15 Short Film Festival – Charlotte, NC
- Must-See Award (Category: Wake-Up Films) : Telluride Mountain Film Festival
- Hero of Conservation – Water Category : Conservation for the Oceans Foundation
- Top Ten Films : Cambridge Film Festival
- Jameson Audience Award : for Best International Documentary Encounters South African Int’l Doc. Festival
- Best Documentary : Film - Nominee Critics Choice Awards
- Animal Action Award : International Fund for Animal Welfare
- Best Documentary : Directors Guild of Canada
- Best Of The Festival : Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival
- Best Sound : Nominee Golden Reel Awards
- Best Documentary : Nominee Genie Awards
- Best Environmental : Film of 2008 National Ocean Film Festival Alliance
- Best Feature Documentary : Genesis Awards
- Audience Award : Durban Int’l Film Festival, S.A.
- Activism through Adventure : Adventure Film Festival 2008 Boulder, CO
- Theatrical Award - Nominated Wildscreen 2008 : Panda Award
- Youth Documentary Award : Bergen International Film Festival
10 Common Shark Sightings
With close to 450 different species of Sharks that inhabit the oceans, sooner or later a Scuba diver is bound to spot one. To some of us spotting a shark on a dive is a great thrill and to others our worst nightmare. We have compiled a list of some of the more common and interesting shark species to help better identify these intimidating yet magnificent creatures.
Great White Sharks
The big daddy of all sharks and also the most feared predator of the seas, the Great White like the Tiger Shark will feed on anything. Averaging about 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) Great Whites diet mainly comprises of seals, dolphins, whale carcasses, seabirds, turtles, squids and other sharks. The Great White Shark is found near the coasts of California, Australia and South Africa. Known to be responsible for almost 10 human fatalities a year, diving with Great Whites must be performed only with highly experienced divers and from the safety of a shark cage. (Also Read: Overcoming The ‘Jaws’ Factor When You Dive)
Tiger Sharks Tiger sharks are perhaps most well known for their aggressive natures and bad reputation as a threat to humans. Second to the Great White, the Tiger Shark is responsible for the second highest number of fatalities related to shark attacks. Growing to a length of 5 meters and reaching a weight of almost 700kg tiger sharks will eat almost anything. They have been known to feed on whales, squid, fish, and turtles and even seabirds. Sand Tiger Sharks Sand Tiger Sharks are also known as Grey nurse sharks are rather slow moving sharks and not aggressive to humans unless provoked. It grows to a length of 3.2 m (about 10.5 ft) and is identifiable by its grey back and white underside. Found in the coastal waters of tropical and temperate regions, Sand Tiger sharks feed primarily on bony fishes including mackerels, other sharks and rays, squids, crabs and lobsters.
Bull Sharks
Often confused with the great white shark, the bull shark is amongst the top three most dangerous sharks roaming in our oceans. The bull shark has a short, wide, rounded snout and plumper bodies. Bull sharks are known for their aggressive behavior and the fact that they can live in both freshwater and saltwater. They can live in rivers, estuaries and some lakes in Central America. In fact, some have been found as far as 3000 km up the Amazon and Mississippi rivers. Bull Sharks feed on a wide variety of creatures including turtles, dolphins, seabirds and even other sharks.
Bull Sharks
Often confused with the great white shark, the bull shark is amongst the top three most dangerous sharks roaming in our oceans. The bull shark has a short, wide, rounded snout and plumper bodies. Bull sharks are known for their aggressive behavior and the fact that they can live in both freshwater and saltwater. They can live in rivers, estuaries and some lakes in Central America. In fact, some have been found as far as 3000 km up the Amazon and Mississippi rivers. Bull Sharks feed on a wide variety of creatures including turtles, dolphins, seabirds and even other sharks.
Blue Shark
All sharks swim very fast, but the blue shark is the fastest. These slender looking blue-skinned sharks can grow up to 12 feet long (4 meters). Inhabiting mainly the tropical and temperate waters of the ocean, the Blue shark is highly migratory. Its diet is mainly composed of squid and small bony fishes. The blue shark is considered to be one of the more dangerous sharks. It has been known to attack humans, which makes it one of species of shark that people most fear, however according to Wikipedia only 4 recorded Blue Shark fatalities have been recorded as of 2008.
Whale shark
These colossal creatures grow to a length of 20m and weigh up to 12,000 Kg feeding off zooplankton, squid and small fish. Found in all temperate and tropical regions, whale sharks are instantly recognizable by its distinct spotted and striped body and wide mouth. Whale sharks are gentle giants and are very popular with divers that enjoy observing and swimming alongside these creatures while feeding. This species, despite its size, does not pose any significant danger to humans.
Nurse Sharks
Are found in the shallow tropical and sub tropical waters of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific regions. Nurse Sharks can grow to a length of 4.3 meters (14ft) and is recognizable by its distinctive mouth which is far ahead of its eyes and made for bottom-feeding. Nocturnal by nature these sharks feed on crustaceans, mollusks stingrays and other fish. Nurse sharks typically attack humans only if directly threatened.
White Tip Reef Shark
Also a frequent sighted shark, Whitetip reef shark are also found along the indo-pacific coral reefs and sometimes as far east as south Africa and Central America. The Whitetip shark grows up to 1.6m (5.2ft) in length and is easily recognizable by its white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins. Living off a diet of fish, crustaceans and octopus, this species hunts mainly at night and are seldom aggressive towards humans.
Black Tip Reef Shark
One of the more common sightings on a reef dive is the Black-Tip Reef Shark which are found in the shallow coral reefs of tropical waters primarily in the indo-pacific. With a brownish skin color, the tips of the shark’s pectoral fin and dorsal fins are black, with a white underside. It has been recorded at up to 2 m (6.5 ft) in length and over 99 lbs (45 kg) in weight. Black tip reef sharks feed mainly on reef fish and are not known to attack divers.
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings. Advocates approach the issue from different philosophical positions, ranging from the protectionist side of the movement, presented by philosopher Peter Singer—with a utilitarian focus on suffering and consequences, rather than on the concept of rights—to the abolitionist side, represented by law professor Gary Francione, who argues that animals need only one right: the right not to be property. Despite the different approaches, advocates broadly agree that animals should be viewed as non-human persons and members of the moral community, and should not be used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment...WIKI
Twitter @animalforce
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"THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN MEN SUCH AS I WILL LOOK UPON THE MURDER OF ANIMALS AS THEY NOW LOOK UPON THE MURDER OF MEN" LEONARDO DA VINCI
Animal Advocate, Shark Conservationist, Animal liberationist, Greenpeace Frontliner, Vegan and Buddhist. Fearless EcoWarrior!
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