hammerhead sharks in Birmingham

The first hammerhead sharks ever seen in a British aquarium have taken up residence at the National SeaLife Centre, Birmingham.
A pair f scalloped hammerheads has joined the black-tipped reef sharks and giant sea turtles in the attraction’s tropical ocean tank.
The new arrivals will spearhead the Centre’s drive to raise awareness of shark conservation needs.

Youngsters of only a little over three feet long, they could eventually grow to over two metres.
“They are truly amazing creatures and will help us in our efforts to persuade people that sharks are diverse and fascinating, and worthy of protection rather than persecution,” said curator Graham Burrows.
Scalloped hammerheads are a particularly appropriate choice to aid the Sea Life centre in its endeavours, as they may soon become a protected species.
“Though endangered, their larger cousins the greater hammerheads are much more seriously threatened,” said Graham.
“One of the prime reasons is the grisly shark-finning trade, and since the fins of both species are hard to tell apart, trade in scalloped hammerheads needs to be controlled to safeguard the greater hammerhead.”
There was good news for scalloped hammerheads in January when the Spanish government prohibited their capture by its own fishing fleet.
They are also benefiting from a recent decision by the Maldivesto declare 90,000 square kilometres of the Indian Oceana shark sanctuary where shark fishing will no longer be allowed.
And if all goes well scalloped hammerheads will be added to the CITES 11 list (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which will afford them more widespread protection.
“We feel privileged to have been chosen to host these two amazing sharks,” said Graham.