Another day, another shark sighting.
SURF:
Good news: Been some fun SW swell the past few days, along with a touch of NW, that gave most areas chest high surf with shoulder high sets at best spots. Bad news: Been an odd summer to say the least. Air and water temps have been below normal, we haven't had an abundance of large swells, and there's been more shark sightings than you can shake a stick at. In the short term- that looks to be the norm.
As today's SW swell winds down tomorrow, we've got new chest high S filling in on Saturday along with little shots of NW windswell again. Sunday may have the odd shoulder high set from the combo swells. Water temps are about 10 degrees colder than last year (due to last summer's strong El Nino) and are sitting around the 68-70 degree mark. Ps- our warmest water temps of the year occur in early August, so the high 60's/low 70's we're experiencing right now is a little cooler than expected. C'mon Neptune- show us some love!
Tides this weekend are:
BEST BET:
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
The study shows that the average body size and number of sharks and other marine predators -- vital to maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems -- fell significantly in proximity to cities with more than 10,000 people and associated fishing fleets. The minimum distance from people and fishing which had no measurable effect was 775 miles. This is far further than previous studies have suggested and probably reflects the increased distances fishing boats can now travel. As a result, sharks were only observed at 12% of sites monitored.
Interestingly, researchers also found that sea surface temperature had a strong influence on predators' average body size, with a marked decrease at more than 82°F. While this is consistent with normal biogeographic patterns -- it is known that many smaller species live in tropical waters, for example -- it could become a problem as global temperatures continue to rise.
Lead author Dr Tom Letessier, of ZSL's Institute of Zoology, said: "Human activity is now the biggest influence on sharks' distribution, overtaking every other ecological factor. Just 13% of the world's oceans can be considered 'wilderness' but sharks and other predators are much more common and significantly larger at distances greater than 775 miles from people. This suggests that large marine predators are generally unable to thrive near to people and is another clear example of the impact of human overexploitation on our seas."
To collect their data, the team analysed video footage taken at 1,041 sites across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, selected to test the biggest possible range of conditions and habitats. Sites varied in proximity to fish markets and human populations, with some close to cities and others up to 925 miles away. Sharks -- and other free-swimming predators -- were studied using cameras attached to cannisters filled with bait. In total the team recorded 23,200 animals representing 109 species. These included 841 individual sharks from 19 different species. From monitoring the coral reefs that surround the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to protecting the last breeding grounds of Critically Endangered angelsharks, ZSL is committed to preserving the oceans' habitats and the wildlife they sustain. Just one year away from the UN's Aichi Biodiversity targets end date, there remain considerable shortcomings in the current placement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Dr Letessier added: "Our study also found that shallower water habitats, of depths less than 1,650 feet, were vital for marine predator diversity. We therefore need to identify sites that are both shallow and remote and prioritize them for conservation. However, there are still numerous shallow hotspots in the vicinity of human markets that are not appropriately protected, and this must change. Existing large, no-take MPAs need to be better enforced and extended to focus on the last refuges where these extraordinary animals remain abundant. "Large marine predators -- and sharks in particular -- play a unique and irreplaceable role in the ocean ecosystem. They control populations of prey species, keep those populations healthy by removing sick or injured animals, and transport nutrients between loosely connected habitats over vast distances."
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
And here's some numbers for you to gaze upon:
Tides this weekend are:
- 3.5' at breakfast
- 2.5' at lunch
- 5.5' at sunset
- 6:08 AM sunrise
- 7:40 PM sunset
Not much to start the work week but we have fun SW showing up around Thursday for shoulder high sets.
After that it goes quiet again until a new SW swell arrives about a week later on the 23rd. All in all some fun SW swells showing up roughtly once a week. And models show another hurricane popping up next week- but like Erick and Flossie- it's probably headed to Hawaii. If anything changes between now and then though, make sure to check out Twitter/North County Surf.
WEATHER:
WEATHER:
Along with the cool water temps, our air temps have been a little low too. But keeping the AC off in late summer is a good thing I guess. We've got low pressure off the Oregon coast tonight which will keep the night/morning low clouds around and temps in the low 70's at the coast. High pressure builds slightly early next week for less low clouds and temps in the mid-70's. Then late next week, low pressure may develop again and the low clouds may be more persistent. All in all, some mild temps and no late summer heat to speak of.
BEST BET:
Sunday with combo swell or next Thursday with fun SW again.
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
As mentioned in last week's THE Surf Report- even though we've had an abundance of shark sightings in Southern California the past 5 years, sharks are actually endangered. On top of that, a team of researchers, led by international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London), has discovered that sharks are much rarer in habitats nearer large human populations and fish markets. The team also found that the average body size of sharks and other marine predators fell dramatically in these areas, where sharks are caught and killed intensively for their meat and fins. Here is what they found:
The study shows that the average body size and number of sharks and other marine predators -- vital to maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems -- fell significantly in proximity to cities with more than 10,000 people and associated fishing fleets. The minimum distance from people and fishing which had no measurable effect was 775 miles. This is far further than previous studies have suggested and probably reflects the increased distances fishing boats can now travel. As a result, sharks were only observed at 12% of sites monitored.
Interestingly, researchers also found that sea surface temperature had a strong influence on predators' average body size, with a marked decrease at more than 82°F. While this is consistent with normal biogeographic patterns -- it is known that many smaller species live in tropical waters, for example -- it could become a problem as global temperatures continue to rise.
Lead author Dr Tom Letessier, of ZSL's Institute of Zoology, said: "Human activity is now the biggest influence on sharks' distribution, overtaking every other ecological factor. Just 13% of the world's oceans can be considered 'wilderness' but sharks and other predators are much more common and significantly larger at distances greater than 775 miles from people. This suggests that large marine predators are generally unable to thrive near to people and is another clear example of the impact of human overexploitation on our seas."
To collect their data, the team analysed video footage taken at 1,041 sites across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, selected to test the biggest possible range of conditions and habitats. Sites varied in proximity to fish markets and human populations, with some close to cities and others up to 925 miles away. Sharks -- and other free-swimming predators -- were studied using cameras attached to cannisters filled with bait. In total the team recorded 23,200 animals representing 109 species. These included 841 individual sharks from 19 different species. From monitoring the coral reefs that surround the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to protecting the last breeding grounds of Critically Endangered angelsharks, ZSL is committed to preserving the oceans' habitats and the wildlife they sustain. Just one year away from the UN's Aichi Biodiversity targets end date, there remain considerable shortcomings in the current placement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Dr Letessier added: "Our study also found that shallower water habitats, of depths less than 1,650 feet, were vital for marine predator diversity. We therefore need to identify sites that are both shallow and remote and prioritize them for conservation. However, there are still numerous shallow hotspots in the vicinity of human markets that are not appropriately protected, and this must change. Existing large, no-take MPAs need to be better enforced and extended to focus on the last refuges where these extraordinary animals remain abundant. "Large marine predators -- and sharks in particular -- play a unique and irreplaceable role in the ocean ecosystem. They control populations of prey species, keep those populations healthy by removing sick or injured animals, and transport nutrients between loosely connected habitats over vast distances."
PIC OF THE WEEK:
If this picture doesn't get you fired up, it's time to find a new hobby.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
I'm Game
Confident Confidant
Inventor Of The Quin Fin
