Albacore

Common Name: Albacore Scientific Name: Thunnus Alalunga Description

Albacore is very low in sodium and is a very good source of protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12, selenium, and niacin. For more on nutrition, see Nutrition Facts. Albacore are widely distributed throughout the world's marine ecosystems in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate zones of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. In the Pacific Ocean, it is generally believed that there exists two stocks of albacore, one in the North Pacific hemisphere and one in the South Pacific hemisphere. Available data indicate that the two stocks do not cross the equator and have separate spawning grounds and times. Diet Albacore feed on fish, crustaceans, and squid. Behaviour Today's albacore tuna are highly advanced marine teleosts, or bony fish, whose earliest ancestors are generally believed to have emerged during the Mesozoic Era, roughly 65 to 210 million years ago. Albacore are members of the Scombridae family, which includes 40 to 50 species of tuna and mackerel, 23 of which are found, for at least a part of their life, in waters off the coast of North America. Life History Albacore are a highly migratory species. Schools of albacore may include other tuna species such as skipjack, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna. Males live longer than females in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The maximum lifespan of albacore in the Atlantic is 13 years, while it is only 9 years in the Mediterranean.

Habitat Albacore is a temperate tuna. Juveniles are mainly found in warmer surface waters, while adults are found in cooler and deeper waters. Special Features or Habits Albacore have very small scales on their body. Their pectoral fins are remarkably long, about 30% of fork length or longer in 1.6 feet or longer fish. Location or Region Found In subtropical western areas of both hemispheres and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

Common Name: Atlantic sharpnose shark Scientific Name: Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Description
The Atlantic sharpnose shark, named for its long, pointed snout, is one of at least five shark species found in South Carolina estuaries (where rivers meet the sea). This predatory fish averages less than three feet in length and feeds mainly on shrimp, crabs, worms, and small fish. Coloration Grey to grey-brown with white ventral surface. Adults have small light (white) dots on body, white margins on pectoral fins and and dusky dorsal fin tips Distribution Western North Atlantic: New Brunswick to Florida, Bahamas and Gulf of Mexico. Biology Abundant. Lives over continental shelf, mainly in shallow water (less than 30 ft) but has been found down to 900 ft. Tolerant to different salinities, and can be found in estuaries and river mouths. During winter months they migrate into deeper waters. Sharpnose sharks can form big schools of same sex and size. Feeding Small fishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Size: Average size between 2.5 to 3 ft, maximum total length about 4 ft. Reproduction Gives birth to live young (viviparous, with yolksac-placenta). Normally 4 to 6 pups per litter, although can vary from 1 to 7. Pups are born in unprotected nursery grounds. Fast growth, reaching maturity after 3 to 4 years with a size of 2 to 2.5 ft. (males) and 2.5 to 3 ft. (females). Similar Species

None. This is the species locally called "sand sharks" Population Status Common Danger to Humans Harmless (although any species of captured shark can - and will try - to bite a careless angler). Newfoundland, Canada, to Argentina, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Common in U.S. Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Common Name: Blue Shark Scientific Name: Prionace glauca Description

Blue sharks are a distinctive dark indigo blue on top, which blends to a lighter bright blue down their sides and ends with a bright white under belly. Soon after death their blue coloration fades to dark gray. Blue sharks have long slender bodies and pointed snouts. Their pectoral fins are long and sickle shaped. The teeth in their upper jaw are triangular, serrated and curved? their lower teeth are narrower and very sharp. Blue sharks generally attain a length of 6 to 8 feet and weigh from 50 to 200 pounds. Large blues can grow to 12 feet in length and weigh over 400 pounds. Diet The Blue Shark eats mainly fish and cephalopods such as squid. Baby Blue Sharks are nourished via a yolk sac placenta, and are born at a length of 35-50cm. Adults grow to 3.83m Blue sharks reportedly feed on anchovy, mackerel, hake, dogfish, squid and pelagic crustaceans including euphausiids. Elsewhere also known to feed also on small sharks and seabirds. May feed more actively at night, with highest activity in the early evening. Behaviour Blue sharks are pelagic and migratory in nature. They frequently swim together at the surface and are known to follow boats to get a free meal. Blue sharks are a popular sportfish in the Gulf of Maine because they are plentiful and are easy to catch. Most blue sharks are released when

caught because of the poor quality of their meat as food. Chumming with herring, mackerel and menhaden works well when trying to attract these sharks. This species is pectoral fins very long, narrow, pointed, Caudal fin nonlunate, Body slender, Snout rounded, long, Color dark blue above, bright blue with metallic hues on sides, white underside, First dorsal fin closer to pelvic fins than to pectoral fins. Habitat Offshore; relatively cool waters 45-70F (7-21C); surface to about 1,970 ft (600 m). Life History Maximum reported size is 396 cm TL (~13 ft) but blue sharks taken off the U.S. West Coast average much smaller are seldom over 260 cm TL or 8 ? ft. For Pacific blue shark, size and age at 50% maturity in males is 203 cm TL or 6 ? ft. and 4-5 years old, and in females at 186 cm TL or 6 ft and 5-6 years old. Maximum age is estimated to be at least 20 years. Special Features or Habits It is the most wide-ranging shark species, being recorded in all tropical and temperate seas, from 50oN to 40oS. The Blue Shark is usually found in water of 12oC to 20oC, and is recorded from the surface to a depth of 350m. In Australia it is recorded from all marine waters except the Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait. Location or Region Found Newfoundland, Canada, to Argentina, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Common in U.S. Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Common Name: Beluga Whale Scientific Name: Delphinapterus Leucas Description

Beluga whales are dark blue-gray in color, measure 3-5 feet long, and weigh 90-130 lbs. The color gradually lightens, usually turning white by age 5 or 6. Beluga whales grow to an average length of 15 ft. and can weigh more than 3,000 lbs. Generally, males are larger in size than females. Belugas are robust-bodied and have a blubber layer which can be as much as 5 inches thick. They are muscular creatures with a small rounded head, a short beak, and are quite mobile in comparison to other whales. Diet
Angel sharks to eat small fishes, crustaceans, mackerel, croaker and molluscs.

Behaviour The belugas have a narrow ridge that runs down the rear of their backs, which allows them to swim freely under floating ice. Also, the beluga is the only whale that can bend its neck. This helps them to maneuver easily and catch prey, using their 34 to 40 teeth, not for chewing, but for grabbing and tearing their prey, which is then swallowed whole. Belugas use sound to find their prey. They also use sound to communicate and navigate by producing a variety of clicks, chirps and whistles. Belugas grow as long as 4.5 m and weigh up to 1500kg. Calves are born in the summer and remain with their mothers for about 24 months. They are slate gray to pinkish brown at birth but become completely white by the time they are adults Habitat The tendency of belugas to consistently use shallow, estuarine locations during summer months has contributed to their overexploitation by hunting. Location or Region Found Beluga whales are found in seasonally ice-covered waters throughout arctic and sub arctic regions. With the exception of those in Cook Inlet and adjacent waters of the northern Gulf of Alaska, most beluga whales in U.S. waters are thought to winter in the Bering Sea and Atlantic Ocean in open leads and polynyas in the pack ice. In spring and summer, they are found in coastal areas or the offshore pack ice.

Gray Seal

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Phocidae Genus: Halichoerus Species: grypus

Description Gray seals are part of the "true seal" family, Phocidae. True seals lack external ear flaps and have short forelimbs that result in limited locomotion on land. Gray seals are sexually "dimorphic" with males reaching up to 10 ft (3 m) in length and 880 lbs (400 kg) and females reaching up to 7.5 ft (2.3 m) in length and 550 lbs (250 kg). Gray seal coloration varies by geographic region and sex of the animal. Females live up to 35 years, while males live up to 25 years in the wild. Gray seals gather in large groups to mate, with males competing with each other for access to females. Land breeding gray seals are often "polygynous"; one male potentially mates with up to 10 females in a given breeding season. However, gray seals that breed on ice are thought to be primarily monogamous. The gestation period for gray seals is 11.5 months, which includes a 3 month delay in implantation of the fertilized egg. Pups in the eastern Atlantic Ocean are born September-November while pups in the western Atlantic Ocean are born January-February. At birth, pups weigh approximately 35 lbs (16

kg) and fatten quickly (by 2.5-3 pounds per day in the first 3 weeks) on rich milk from their mothers. Pups are born with creamy white fur that is shed after the first 3 weeks of life. After this period, coat patterns differ between the sexes with females having a silvergrey coat with scattered dark spots and males having a dark gray coat with silver gray spots. Males can also be distinguished from females by their long-arched "roman" nose. The male nose is the basis for its Latin name, Halichoerus grypus, which means "hookednose sea pig." Gray seals are opportunistic feeders that consume between 4% and 6% of their bodyweight per day. Food sources include fish, crustaceans, squid, octopus, and even seabirds on occasion. Smaller fish are generally consumed underwater while bigger fish are brought up to the surface to be broken into smaller pieces using the seals' "prehensile" front flippers and mouth. Gray seals can dive to great depths to capture food, with recorded dives as deep as 1,560 feet (475 m). "Social feeding" is often practiced by gray seals, which helps to prevent prey escaping capture. With excellent vision and hearing, this species is a formidable hunter. In open waters, gray seals rest in a vertical position similar to a floating bottle, where the animal keeps only its head and neck above water. Some sharks and killer whales have been known to prey on gray seals. Habitat
Gray seals are generally found in coastal waters. In their cold water habitat, these animals use blubber to maintain necessary body temperatures. On land, they inhabit rocky coasts and islands, sandbars, and ice shelves and icebergs. During mating, pupping, and molting, they gather into large groups. At sea they are usually found alone or in small dispersed groups. When hunting, gray seals use the entire water column--from the water's surface to the sea floor. Gray seals share their habitat with many organisms and are often found in the same areas as harbor seals. Distribution

Gray seals are divided into three somewhat isolated stocks 1. Western north Atlantic stock located in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States; 2. Eastern north Atlantic stock that includes Great Britain, Iceland, Norway, Denmark the Faroe Islands, and Russia; and 3. Baltic Sea stock. Breeding seals are found across the North Atlantic in coastal areas from Massachusetts to the Baltic Sea. Young seals often disperse widely, sometimes going over 1,000 miles (1,610 km) from their natal grounds. For example, young seals born in the eastern United States and Canada are sometimes seen in New Jersey waters.
Population Trends

Over the last few centuries, gray seals were hunted in great numbers. Many populations declined. While gray seals were historically harvested mostly for subsistence and furs, bounty hunting became more prevalent as gray seals were thought to feed on and spread

disease to commercially important fish species (e.g., cod). Though still culled by humans in Canada and other areas, many of these populations have bounced back and are continuing to grow. Current population numbers for the western North Atlantic stock are unknown but are estimated at over 250,000 animals. Most recent population estimates show increases in abundance in Canada and the United States, although the population in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence appears to be declining. Within U.S. waters, gray seals have been seen pupping in increasing numbers on isolated islands off the Maine coast, Nantucket-Vineyard Sound, outer Cape Cod, and on Muskeget Island. In 2002, more than 1,000 pups were born on Muskeget Island. A reliable estimate for the eastern Atlantic stock is not available, though the population may be nearly equivalent to the western Atlantic stock. The majority of gray seals in this stock are located in the waters of Great Britain where the population is estimated to be between 117,000 and 171,000 at the start of the breeding season (excluding pups). The next largest eastern Atlantic population is in Iceland, estimated at 11,600 animals. While localized populations might differ, this stock is thought to be increasing overall. Scientists estimate the Baltic Sea stock at over 22,000 gray seals, up from only 1,5002,000 a few decades before. Although this population is growing, it is still a fraction of the historic population estimated at 88,000-100,000 animals.

Common Name: Octopus Scientific Name: Octopus vulgaris (Common octopus)

Description
Octopuses are characterized by their eight arms (as distinct from the tentacles found in squid and cuttlefish), usually bearing suction cups. These arms are a type of muscular hydrostat. Unlike most other cephalopods, the majority of octopuses - those in the suborder most commonly known, Incirrina - have almost entirely soft bodies with no internal skeleton.

Range & Habitat

This octopus is found from the southern North Sea down to South Africa. It also occurs in the Mediterranean. It reaches the north-eastern extreme of its range in Britain where it is found only around the coasts of the south and south west. It occurs along rocky coasts in the shallow sublittoral zone.

Octopus in nature
Octopuses have a relatively short life expectancy, and some species live for as little as six months. Larger species, such as the North Pacific Giant Octopus, may live for up to five years under suitable circumstances. Octopuses have three hearts. Two pump blood through each of the two gills, while the third pumps blood through the body. Octopus blood contains the copper-rich protein hemocyanin for transporting oxygen. Although less efficient under normal conditions than the iron-rich hemoglobin of vertebrates, in cold conditions with low oxygen pressure, hemocyanin oxygen transportation is more efficient than hemoglobin oxygen transportation.

Intelligence
Octopuses are highly intelligent, probably more intelligent than any other order of invertebrates.An octopus has a highly complex nervous system, only part of which is localized in its brain. Two-thirds of an octopus's neurons are found in the nerve cords of its arms, which have a remarkable amount of autonomy. Octopus arms show a wide variety of complex reflex actions arising on at least three different levels of the nervous system. Some octopuses, such as the Mimic Octopus, will move their arms in ways that emulate the movements of other sea creatures.

Reproduction
When octopuses reproduce, males use a specialized arm called a hectocotylus to insert spermatophores (packets of sperm) into the female's mantle cavity. The hectocotylus in benthic octopuses is usually the third right arm. Males die within a few months after mating. In some species, the female octopus can keep the sperm alive inside her for weeks until her eggs are mature. After they have been fertilized, the female lays about 200,000 eggs.The female does not eat during the roughly one-month period spent taking care of the unhatched eggs. Common Name: Jelly Fish Scientific Name: Aurelia aurita (Common jellyfish) Description Jellyfish are members of the phylum Cnidaria, a structurally simple marine group of both fixed and mobile animals: sea anemones, sea whips, corals and hydroids are polyps that grow attached to rocks or other hard surfaces; jellyfish and colonial siphonophores like the Portuguese man-of-war are mobile (either actively swimming or subject to winds and currents).

Nature of Jellyfish Instead of a brain, jellyfish possess an elementary nervous system, or nerve net, which consists of receptors capable of detecting light, odor and other stimuli and coordinating appropriate responses. Jellyfish are composed of an outer layer (epidermis), which covers the external body surface, and an inner layer (gastrodermis), which lines the gut. Between the epidermis and gastrodermis is a layer of thick elastic jellylike substance called mesoglea ("middle jelly"). Jellyfish have a simple digestive cavity, (coelenteron), which acts as a gullet, stomach and intestine, with one opening for both the mouth and anus. Four to eight oral arms are located near the mouth and are used to transport food that has been captured by the tentacles to the mouth.

Habitat
Jellyfish inhabit every major oceanic area of the world and are capable of withstanding a wide range of temperatures and salinities. Most live in shallow coastal waters, but a few inhabit depths of 12,000 feet!

Food
Jellyfish are carnivorous, feeding mostly on a variety of zooplankton, comb jellies and occasionally other jellyfish. Larger species, however, are capable of capturing and devouring large crustaceans and other marine organisms.Some species, including the mushroom and cannonball jellyfish, are even considered a delicacy by humans. Pickled or semi-dried mushroom jellyfish are consumed in large quantities in Asia, where they constitute a multimillion-dollar part of the seafood business.

Types of Jellyfish
Cannonball Jelly(Stomolophus meleagris) Mushroom Jelly(Rhopilema verrilli) Southern Moon Jelly(Aurelia marginalis) Lion's Mane(Cyanea capillata) Sea Nettle(Chrysaora quinquecirrha)

Locomotion
The adult jellyfish drifts in the water with limited control over its horizontal movement. It is, however, endowed with muscles that allow it to contract its bell, reducing the space under it and forcing water out through the opening. This pulsating rhythm allows for regulation of vertical movement. Because jellyfish are sensitive to light, this vertical movement can be important. Some jellyfish, like the sea wasp, descend to deeper waters during the bright sun of the midday and surface during early morning, late afternoon and evening.

Special Features or Habits

Jellyfish are equipped with a specialized venom apparatus (cnidoblast) for defense and feeding. A capsule (nematocyst) inside the cnidoblast contains a trigger and a stinging structure. The stinging structure varies according to species but generally consists of a hollow coiled thread with barbs lining its length. Nematocysts are concentrated on the tentacles or oral arms.Nematocysts are activated when tentacles make contact with an object. Stings usually paralyze or kill only small creatures (fish, small crustaceans), but some jellyfish are harmful to humans. Although jellyfish do not "attack" humans, swimmers and beachcombers can be stung when they come into contact with the jellyfish tentacles with functional nematocysts.

Treatment of Sting
Primary first aid for any jellyfish sting should be to minimize the number of nematocysts discharging into the skin and to reduce the harmful effects of the venom.A variety of substances have been used to reduce the effects of jellyfish stings. Meat tenderizer, sugar, vinegar, plant juices and sodium bicarbonate have all been used with varying degrees of success.

Prevention

Care should be taken when swimming in areas where dangerous jellies are known to exist or when an abundance of jellies of any type is present. Keep in mind that tentacles of some species may trail a great distance from the body of the organism and should be given lots of room.Rubber skin-diving suits offer protection against most contact.