The survey began in 1986 and is conducted every two to three years. It covers coastal waters from Florida, where coastal shark species concentrate during the winter and spring, north to Delaware, where many shark species migrate during spring and summer as more northerly waters warm. Following this migratory route, at this time of year, makes it easier to survey the whole population.

During their field work this summer NOAA scientists tagged 2,835 sharks, compared to the 1,831 tagged in the previous survey done in 2012.

Nanomia bijuga is part of a group of organisms, known as physonect siphonophores, a group of chain-like hydrozoan predators and a relative of jellies, anemones and corals.

The Flying Fortress took part in a raid on Palermo on April 18 1943 when it was attacked by several German ME-110 fighters that knocked out one of its engines. The aircraft, part of the 353rd Bomber Squadron of the American air force, crashed into the sea, with the loss of all nine crew.

The WW2 bomber was found a few months ago by a group Italian divers who are part of a project called “Shadows of the Deep”, which aims to locate the wrecks of planes and boats off Sicily.

Every summer, hundreds of whale sharks gather off the Yucatan Coast near the Mexican tourist hubs of Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox. The sharks congregate 32 km offshore to gorge on the eggs of a fish called the little tunny, skimming them from the ocean’s surface with enormous, gaping mouths. In recent years, the spectacle has attracted legions of tourists to snorkel alongside the graceful, slow-moving giants.