News
First IVF Shark Born in Australia
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium has successfully hatched Australia’s first shark born via artificial insemination with hopes that the development can ultimately be used to help breed threatened species.
The brown banded bamboo shark pup was born on March 3, ending a process which began in September when aquarists collected a semen sample from a shark in Mooloolaba in northeastern Australia.
This was flown to the southern city of Melbourne and inseminated into the mother the same day – making the pup the first shark to be born globally via a live semen sample transported from one facility to another, Sea Life said.
Melbourne Aquarium vet Rob Jones said the birth of the shark – which is expected to grow from its initial length of 6.3 inches to an adult size of 1.2 to 1.5 metres – was a milestone in using assisted reproductive technologies.
“This is a big leap,” said Mr Jones.
The hatching is part of a nine-year project into understanding the reproductive behaviours of sharks, animals which are common in Australia but are little understood.
The team hope their research will help with plans to manage threatened species in the wild, in particular the critically endangered grey nurse shark.
The egg, one of several laid by the shark in November but the only viable one, was monitored weekly during its incubation period of 112 days.
“With each insemination attempt, we continue to learn about the reproductive behaviours of Australian shark species,” said Melbourne Aquarium research consultant Jon Daly.
“Hopefully we can use this technology as a basis for breeding grey nurse sharks in captivity and, in years to come, boost the species’ dwindling numbers in the wild.”
Grey nurse sharks are considered critically endangered, with estimates that there could be as few as 1,500 left on Australia’s east coast.
Source: www.tribune.com.pk
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the festive season, divers can save money again with the FREE OCTOPUS winter promotion! Until December 31st SCUBAPRO offers one of the two new Octopus models S270 or R105 for free with every purchase of a regulator system!
The S270 OCTOPUS is free with purchase of a MK25 EVO/D420 or MK19 EVO/D420, MK25 EVO/S620Ti or MK19 EVO/ S620Ti in INT or DIN versions. A R105 OCTOPUS is free with purchase of a MK25 EVO/S600 or MK17 EVO/S600, or MK25 EVO/G260 or MK19 EVO/G260 or MK19 EVO BT or MK25 EVO BT/ G260 CARBON BT in INT or DIN versions.
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions.
Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available here: SCUBAPRO Free Octopus Promotion 2023
Indo Siren, a vessel from the Master Liveaboards Fleet, has been destroyed by a fire this morning. Thankfully, all guests and crew members are safe.
Master Liveaboards have released the following statement:
During our current cruise in Raja Ampat, on the morning of 30th November, a fire broke
out on Indo Siren. At the current time we are still assessing the events around the incident,
and will be working with authorities, so cannot currently comment further.
All guests and staff departed the boat, without further incident. They are now with our
ground crew who have organised accommodations while we assist with all their other
needs going forwards.
We are currently evaluating the issues created by the fire on upcoming trips. Guests who
are likely to be affected by enforced cancellations or changes will be contacted in due time
when plans are finalised.
We are incredibly grateful that this incident was not more serious and that everyone who
was onboard, both crew and guests, are safe and well.
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