California

The USS Stewart was deliberately sunk during a US Navy exercise in May 1946, with its final resting place now located in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary off northern California. This information comes from a statement by the Air Sea Heritage Foundation and Search Inc., both of which participated in the investigation. The search was led by Ocean Infinity in collaboration with NOAA and the US Navy.

The Conception was anchored off Santa Cruz Island, south of Santa Barbara, when it caught fire before dawn on the final day of a three-day excursion. It sank less than 30 metres (100 feet) from shore. Thirty-four people were killed in the fire.

A recent article by Sam Fletcher begins with the gripping account of a wildlife videographer, Scott Fairchild. Using a drone, he captures a heart-stopping moment when a great white shark repeatedly approaches a lone swimmer off the coast of San Diego. Yet suddenly the shark veers away and disappears. Fairchild states that he has seen countless such encounters between swimmers and white sharks off the Californian coast.

The groundbreaking study delved into the drivers behind how juvenile white sharks move. Using special tracking technology that listens to the sharks and tracks their positions, the team of scientists, led by Emily Spurgeon, gathered detailed information about how the varying temperatures of the layers of the sea affect their travels.

For years, the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, has been at the forefront of research, tracking shark movements and behaviour, which has been crucial for beach safety and conservation efforts. The loss of funding could severely hinder these vital studies, potentially impacting both ecological understanding and public welfare.

(TOP BANNER IMAGE: Carlos Gauna/The Malibu Artist) 

The remarkable sighting occurred on 9 July 2023, approximately 400m (1,300ft) off the shores of Carpinteria, California. Wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and Phillip Sternes, a doctoral student in the Department of Biology at the University of California Riverside, stumbled upon the extraordinary sight while filming aerial footage.

About the author

The findings from UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute provide compelling evidence of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) value to the scuba diving industry and local economies. As global leaders aim to protect 30% of land and water by 2030, understanding the diverse benefits of MPAs is crucial for informed decision-making and sustainable coastal management.