SCUBA Jul-Aug 2026 issue 167 | Seite 53

Seeking harmony Shark Trust MD Paul Cox reports from an international conference working towards a more holistic approach to shark conservation

Bloomin’ Octopus: the movie

With the South West facing a continuing octopus bloom, diver and cameraman David Palfrey has made a short film on the phenomenon, Bloomin’ Octopus, which launched in May. A report led by the Marine Biological Association( MBA) in Plymouth said more octopus had been seen off the coast in 2025 than for at least 75 years. The population spike has coincided with unusually warm conditions, believed to be due to climate change.

One of the film’ s interviewees is the MBA report’ s lead author, University of Plymouth associate professor Dr Bryce Stewart. Dr Stewart connected the observations of divers to data on warming seas and ecosystem change. He said:“ The octopus bloom is an extraordinary event that tells us a lot about how marine life is responding to a warming ocean.” Mr Palfrey filmed fishermen and restaurateurs to show different perspectives on the blooms and the effects they can have on society.

16th Century Swedish wreck

The Swedish navy has discovered a previously unidentified shipwreck from the late 16th century during a military exercise in the Kalmar Sound. A dendrochronological analysis of the wood confirmed the age of the find, which lies between the Swedish mainland and the island of Öland. It is even older than the famous Vasa, according to Kalmar County Council. The Kalmar Strait connects the northern and southern Baltic Sea and was one of the most important shipping routes in northern Europe in the 16th Century. Researcher Daniel Tedenlind said that the shipwreck has considerable cultural and historical value. Very few well-preserved shipwrecks are known from the late 16th century- a period that signalled fundamental technological changes in shipbuilding. Authorities have placed the site under protection and the Swedish coast guard is monitoring the area. Diving, fishing and anchoring are not allowed near the wreck.

It’ s hot. As I write this, I’ m at the 5th Sharks International conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It’ s the biggest yet, with more than 800 scientists, conservationists, students and funding partners. Everyone is here for sharks and rays, and we’ ve got so much to talk about. But mostly we’ re all just talking about how hot it is. Oh, and the food, which is amazing. Anyway, this column is supposed to be about sharks, so I’ ll cut to the chase. As I may have intimated in the past, the big issue for sharks is fisheries, so this conference is heavily focussed on finding ways to reverse the situation. New research, policy discussions and a whole host of projects across geographies and cultures where fishers are being brought into the conversation to co-create solutions. Since the last meeting in 2022, the rise in the application of social sciences is remarkable. It really feels like a shift in thinking towards a much more holistic approach to conservation.

In that spirit, on day one, we( the Shark Trust) led an afternoon of sessions

PHOTO: SIMON ROGERSON

A bull shark moves through a school of grunts in Cabo Pulmo, Mexico, where local fishermen have agreed on a voluntary marine park on the theme of‘ Living with Sharks’ – essentially how do we move into a future where sharks and humans play nicely together as both populations grow and interact more and more. As well as looking at how to mitigate against sharks biting-off catch from the expensively deployed reels of sport fishermen( which really annoys them), we looked at the future of beach safety and how the growth in shark diving and tourism can be managed responsibly.

Even after two days, it’ s abundantly clear that there is still so much work in shark conservation. As we succeed in securing new conservation measures, so the work starts in ensuring compliance and enforcement. With that done, and sharks on the road to recovery, we’ ll then have this challenge of ensuring harmonious coexistence. It’ s a good job the Government keep raising the retirement age, because we’ re going to need a few more years. But the job has its perks – the food in Sri Lanka being one of them.

Mmm. www. sharktrust. org

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