![]() ![]() This study just goes to show how much of the ocean we still have left to explore and not just the great dark depths either, whilst scientists are already saying there will be more partnerships with marine animals in the future.įurther out in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean, the enormous marine protected area that is the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is seeing fantastic results for tuna. This has been a fantastic find and provides a new valuable argument for ocean conservation in the Bahamas, a region which is threatened by dredging for coastal development and seabed mining for aragonite. This 35,000 square mile extent of seagrass stretches over the Caribbean seabed, housing multiple marine species whilst also absorbing and storing carbon. The footage captured by the tiger sharks is therefore incredibly valuable to marine conservation and the results have been astounding as scientists have discovered the world’s largest known seagrass ecosystem. Seagrass is also often interwoven with other marine plants and it can be tricky to identify specific species from a distant aerial photograph. This technique provided a unique perspective as using divers to carry out the same task would be expensive and time consuming whilst photos taken from planes or satellites are often not accurate enough as seagrass frequently hides beneath cloudy murky waters. After six hours, the straps holding the devices in place are corroded by the saltwater and float to the surface where scientists collect them. Researchers in the Bahamas attached cameras and tracking devices onto the dorsal fins of tiger sharks which then made their way across the seabed capturing footage of their surroundings. This characteristic, combined with the fact these creatures cover great distances and depths, made them the perfect choice for use by scientists to conduct research into seagrass beds. When storms hit, other shark species are known to flee from coastal areas but tiger sharks stay put and barely batter an eyelid. Tiger sharks have a formidable reputation as one of the fiercest shark species. Let’s start with how scientists are teaming up with tiger sharks to help gather more information on the condition of our underwater environments. So here are some of the positive stories that have emerged over the last few months which give us a glimmer of hope that the future of our blue planet may still be bright. We all need to hear some good news every once in a while, especially when it comes to the state of our oceans.
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