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http://www.canada.com/Baby+salmon+shark+washes+Tofino+beach/1933376/story.html
Baby salmon shark washes up on Tofino beach
By Sarah Douziech, Westerly NewsAugust 27, 2009 12:00 AM
Tofino's Spann family found a baby salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) washed up on Chesterman Beach by Frank Island, in Tofino, last week.
Local whale expert Jim Darling identified the species and said salmon sharks are very common in northern Pacific waters.
"Several people on the beach were saying it's a [great] white shark, it's not," Darling said, adding that it is also not a dogfish, although he thought it might have been at first glance.
He said he has no idea why the shark washed ashore and couldn't tell how it had died.
The shark measured 96.5 centimetres, was missing one of its pectoral fins and had several puncture holes in its body.
Darling said it probably wasn't worth keeping because it's not uncommon for the species to wash ashore. He did note, however that it was interesting that one of the salmon shark's prey are squid.
Two weeks ago hundreds of Humboldt squid inexplicably washed up on Chesterman Beach and other local beaches.
A biologist with Parks Canada said the juvenile salmon shark was the first one reported to have washed ashore this year, but that in the past it has been a more common occurrence.
"In 2007 four or five juvenile salmon sharks were reported as having washed up alive and dead from beaches along the West Coast, from Chesterman to the Juan de Fuca trail," Jennifer Yakimishyn said.
She noted a change in temperature in a layer of ocean water, a thermocline, is most likely the cause of juvenile salmon shark strandings.
Though Yakimishyn said the shark was most likely not chasing Humboldt squid, they are both being seen in the area because of higher water temperatures this year.
sdouziech@westerlynews.ca
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
Baby salmon shark washes up on Tofino beach
By Sarah Douziech, Westerly NewsAugust 27, 2009 12:00 AM
Tofino's Spann family found a baby salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) washed up on Chesterman Beach by Frank Island, in Tofino, last week.
Local whale expert Jim Darling identified the species and said salmon sharks are very common in northern Pacific waters.
"Several people on the beach were saying it's a [great] white shark, it's not," Darling said, adding that it is also not a dogfish, although he thought it might have been at first glance.
He said he has no idea why the shark washed ashore and couldn't tell how it had died.
The shark measured 96.5 centimetres, was missing one of its pectoral fins and had several puncture holes in its body.
Darling said it probably wasn't worth keeping because it's not uncommon for the species to wash ashore. He did note, however that it was interesting that one of the salmon shark's prey are squid.
Two weeks ago hundreds of Humboldt squid inexplicably washed up on Chesterman Beach and other local beaches.
A biologist with Parks Canada said the juvenile salmon shark was the first one reported to have washed ashore this year, but that in the past it has been a more common occurrence.
"In 2007 four or five juvenile salmon sharks were reported as having washed up alive and dead from beaches along the West Coast, from Chesterman to the Juan de Fuca trail," Jennifer Yakimishyn said.
She noted a change in temperature in a layer of ocean water, a thermocline, is most likely the cause of juvenile salmon shark strandings.
Though Yakimishyn said the shark was most likely not chasing Humboldt squid, they are both being seen in the area because of higher water temperatures this year.
sdouziech@westerlynews.ca
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
