Diving with Thresher Sharks

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Diving with thresher shark
 

Thresher Shark Diving with Thresher Sharks

Diving with Thresher Sharks

There is no problem diving with them as they are considered as harmless to humans.

 

Thresher sharks, also called big-eye threshers are easily recognizable because of their long caudal fins, which equal about half the total length of their body. There are three species and the largest of the three species is the common thresher, Alopias vulpinus, which can reach a length of 6.1 meters and a weight of over 500 kilograms. The big-eye thresher, Alopias superciliosus, is next in size, reaching a length of 4.9 m; at just 3 m, the pelagic thresher, Alopias pelagicus, is the smallest. 
Thresher sharks inhabit warm and temperate waters worldwide, prefering cool pelagic waters. They feed on squid, octopuses, crustaceans and small schooling fish such as bluefish, needlefish, lancet fish, lantern fish, menhaden, shad, mackerel, and others. They are also thought to stun prey with blows from their powerful tails.  All three thresher shark species are now listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Thresher sharks are among the most demanded shark species for global fisheries.  They are prized for their high quality meat, which is used, fresh, frozen, smoked and dried-salted. Their fins are prized for shark-fin soup; their livers for vitamin extraction and their hides are used in the production of leather goods. The Pelagic Thresher Shark represents 12% of Taiwan’s shark catch with an average 3,100 units (222 MT) taken per annum. A number of regional assessments have also been designated for the Big-eye Thresher Shark as follows: Vulnerable in the eastern central Pacific; Endangered in the northwest Atlantic and western central Atlantic; Near Threatened in the southwest Atlantic; Data Deficient in the Mediterranean Sea; and Vulnerable in the Indo-west Pacific.

Thresher sharks, also called big-eye threshers are easily recognizable because of their long caudal fins, which equal about half the total length of their body. There are three species and the largest of the three species is the common thresher, Alopias vulpinus, which can reach a length of 6.1 meters and a weight of over 500 kilograms. The big-eye thresher, Alopias superciliosus, is next in size, reaching a length of 4.9 m; at just 3 m, the pelagic thresher, Alopias pelagicus, is the smallest. 

Thresher sharks inhabit warm and temperate waters worldwide, prefering cool pelagic waters. They feed on squid, octopuses, crustaceans and small schooling fish such as bluefish, needlefish, lancet fish, lantern fish, menhaden, shad, mackerel, and others. They are also thought to stun prey with blows from their powerful tails.  All three thresher shark species are now listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Thresher sharks are among the most demanded shark species for global fisheries. They are prized for their high quality meat, which is used, fresh, frozen, smoked and dried-salted. Their fins are prized for shark-fin soup; their livers for vitamin extraction and their hides are used in the production of leather goods. The Pelagic Thresher Shark represents 12% of Taiwan’s shark catch with an average 3,100 units (222 MT) taken per annum. A number of regional assessments have also been designated for the Big-eye Thresher Shark as follows: Vulnerable in the eastern central Pacific; Endangered in the northwest Atlantic and western central Atlantic; Near Threatened in the southwest Atlantic; Data Deficient in the Mediterranean Sea; and Vulnerable in the Indo-west Pacific.

More detailed information about Thresher Sharks can be found here.

 
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