Cape Clasp Blog

Welcome to another episode of our podcast, Sharks Don’t Sleep, where we talk to people making waves for the ocean! On episode 8 we’re talking to Danni Washington, the co-founder and Executive Director of Big Blue & You!

Sharks are fascinating creatures. They have been on the planet longer than trees. They were around when the dinosaurs first started roaming the Earth and survived the mass extinction that wiped them out.

With nearly 500 different species, from the hand-sized dwarf lantern shark to the bus-sized whale shark, sharks have successfully populated every corner of every ocean for over 400 million years.

But now, many shark species are at risk of extinction due to human action.

While you may not be able to identify their age just by looking at them, scientists are finding that great white sharks have longer lifespans than what they originally thought  – and some of these predators are living up to seventy years or more.

Unfortunately, that longer lifespan also means it takes longer for these sharks to mature, and their population is only becoming more and more fragile. After years of people hunting these creatures for their fins and teeth, great white sharks have been labeled a “vulnerable” species.

It’s not a big deal, right? A little plastic here, a little there. It’s not going to hurt anyone. Except it does. Plastic hurts a lot of someones every day, particularly those who live beneath the ocean waves. What you don’t know can be devastating. Read on to learn 10 surprising ocean pollution facts that will inspire you to make better choices.

Every year thousands of whales, dolphins, and other marine animals wash up on beaches around the world. Beaching is not limited to sick or dead animals; sometimes perfectly healthy whales end up finding themselves stuck on the beach. While not common enough to cause a threat to the species, it is a fascinating phenomenon. There are many reasons why whales suddenly found themselves stranded on land. Read on to learn more about whale beachings!