News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
Megamouth clues surface
Newfoundland wreck mystery
ENVIRONMENT
Protect Our Seas
News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
Megamouth clues surface
An ultra-rare megamouth shark was recently found washed up on a beach in west Luzon , Philippines . It is thought the filter-feeder was about to give birth , but ( for unknown reasons ) died . Five pups were removed from the shark when an informal necroscopy was carried out on the beach . Mystery surrounds the life cycles of the megamouth shark , Megachasma pelagios , the smallest of the three filter feeding sharks , known from only 100 specimens since its discovery in 1976 . The discovery has led to theories there could be a megamouth ‘ nursery ’ in the region .
Newfoundland wreck mystery
A mysterious wooden shipwreck has washed up on shore in Newfoundland , Canada , provoking much local interest . Wanda Blackmore said her son was hunting sea ducks when he stumbled upon “ a dark object out in the water ”. It was a 24m-long wooden ship that possibly dates back to the 1880s .
Locals believe it could be a vital piece of their history , and experts now intend to uncover what it was before it met its fate . “ It could be the ship that brought my ancestors , or my husband ’ s
ancestors ,” said Ms Blackmore , who has English , Irish and Scottish roots . A team of archaeologists was due to gather clues and were hoping to study the wreck before winter storms buried the structure or carried it away .
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