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<font size="4"><b>Shark guide probes uncharted waters<br>
<br>
</b></font>NARRAGANSETT--While a lone fin gliding at the surface of the
water is enough to clear swimming areas and rates T.V. news coverage,
sharks have more to fear from humans than vice versa. Along with other
highly migratory species-tunas and billfishes-shark populations have
been
depleted partly by overfishing and partly by natural factors. Saving
these economically valuable fishes is important but not simple, since
they cover thousands of miles of ocean territory in search of
food.<br>
<br>
Difficulties in identifying these creatures for stock assessment and
for
understanding biological and behavioral characteristics prompted the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) and Rhode Island Sea
Grant to produce a 124-page guide that will help users distinguish
among
44 highly migratory species that inhabit the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of
Mexico. <br>
<br>
According to author Margo Schulze-Haugen, NOAA Fisheries fishery
management specialist, the <i>Guide to Sharks, Tunas & Billfishes
of
the U.S. Atlantic & Gulf of Mexico</i> "is different from
previous guides because it focuses on how to identify species while the
fish is still in the water. Many guides rely on internal
characteristics (which require that the fish be dead) or counting of
body
parts (which require that the fish be on board the vessel for some
period
of time), in addition to external characteristics. The intent with our
emphasis on external characteristics (seen often very quickly as the
fish
swims around) is to increase species-specific identifications without
associated mortality." <br>
<br>
In order to focus on external characteristics, the
authors--Schulze-Haugen, Tony Corey, Rhode Island Sea Grant
communicator,
and Nancy Kohler, Apex Predators Program chief, NOAA Fisheries
Narragansett Laboratory--decided to use photographs to aid in
identification.<br>
<br>
Corey says that "Photos are hard to come by. These animals are
protected because they're rare or sparsely reported or poorly
understood.
So, our major challenge was tracking down photos sharp and distinctive
enough to allow people to compare what they see in the book to what
they
see in the water." <br>
<br>
In addition to the photographs, the guide offers at-a-glance physical
descriptions, habitat and distribution information, side-by-side
comparisons of similar species, and information about reducing the risk
of shark attack. Species-specific experts have reviewed the content for
accuracy. <br>
<br>
The <i>Guide to Sharks, Tunas & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic
&
Gulf of Mexico</i> is $25 plus $3 for U.S. shipping and handling. For
more information or to order, please contact Jean Gallo at (401)
874-6842. <br>
<br>
Rhode Island Sea Grant is a federal-state partnership, based at the
University of Rhode Island, that promotes the conservation and
sustainable development of marine resources for the public benefit
through research, outreach, and education. <br>
<br>
###<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>_________________________</div>
<div>Monica Allard Cox</div>
<div>Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program</div>
<div>URI Graduate School of Oceanography</div>
<div>Narragansett, RI 02882</div>
<br>
<div>Tel: (401) 874-6937</div>
<div>Fax: (401) 874-6817</div>
<div>Web:
<a href="http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/" eudora="AUTOURL">http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu</a></div>
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