Tiger Shark & Other Shark Dive Gallery
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The Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, is a species of requiem shark and the only member of the genus Galeocerdo. Commonly known as sea tiger, the tiger shark is a relatively large macropredator, capable of attaining a length of over 5 m (16 ft). It is found in many tropical and temperate waters, and it is especially common around central Pacific islands. Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body which resemble a tiger's pattern, which fade as the shark matures.
The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly nocturnal hunter. Its diet includes a wide variety of prey, ranging from crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, and sea snakes to dolphins and even other smaller sharks. Due to its tendency to swallow virtually anything it encounters, including non-edible manmade objects that linger in its stomach, the tiger shark has been nicknamed "the garbage can of the sea". The tiger shark is considered a near threatened species due to finning and fishing by humans.
Conservation
The tiger shark is captured and killed for its fins, flesh, and liver. It is caught regularly in target and nontarget fisheries. Several populations have declined where they have been heavily fished. Continued demand for fins may result in further declines in the future. Tiger sharks are considered a near threatened species due to excessive finning and fishing by humans according to International Union for Conservation of Nature.
While shark fin has very few nutrients, shark liver has a high concentration of vitamin A which is used in the production of vitamin oils. In addition, the tiger shark is captured and killed for its distinct skin, as well as by big game fishers.
In 2010, Greenpeace International added the tiger shark to its seafood red list, which is a list of fish commonly sold around the world, and which have a very high risk of being sourced from unsustainable fisheries.
Relationship with humans
A large tiger shark caught in Kaneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu in 1966
Although shark attacks are a relatively rare phenomenon, the tiger shark is responsible for a large percentage of fatal attacks and is regarded as one of the most dangerous shark species.[ They often visit shallow reefs, harbors and canals, creating the potential for encounter with humans. The tiger shark also dwells in river mouths and other runoff-rich water. While the tiger shark is considered to be one of the sharks most dangerous to humans, the attack rate is low according to researchers. The tiger is second on the list of number of recorded attacks on humans, with the great white shark being first. On average, three to four shark attacks occur per year in Hawaii, and most attacks are not fatal. This attack rate is surprisingly low considering thousands of people swim, surf and dive in Hawaiian waters every day. Attacks by tiger sharks in Hawaiian waters have been shown to increase in the autumn, between September and November, when tiger shark females are believed to migrate to the islands to give birth.
Between 1959 and 1976, 4,668 tiger sharks were culled in an effort to protect the tourism industry. Despite these efforts, attacks did not decrease. It is illegal to feed sharks in Hawaii, and interaction with them, such as cage diving, is discouraged. South African shark behaviorist and shark diver Mark Addison demonstrated divers could interact and dive with them outside of a shark cage in 2007 Discovery Channel special. Source: Wikipedia.
As you can see from the above pictures and videos, humans can interact and have a positive relationship with these creatures that should be protected and not be wiped from this earth. They are magical creatures that bring a balance to the oceans ecosystem and are important in all aspects. The more we learn and interact and respect them, the more we can learn to save and help preserve their species from human destruction.