Prowling the Seas: Exploring the Hidden World of Ocean Predators

To the naked eye scanning the ocean's surface it might just look "The open ocean is as lifeless as the moon." But down under the waves lurks a vast array of predators and they have become a real topic of interest for scientists. "Surveys and fishing data show that ...more than 90 percent of all large fish, such as sharks, swordfish, and fluefin tuna, are gone." So the scientists have begun a program called TOPP-Taggin of Pacific Predators. If they can tag the predators, they can learn more about them. When I say leatherback sea turtle do you think predator? How about a bluefin tuna? Now, let's try this one: Great White Shark? Or a sooty shearwater? Did you know that in 2007 there was a great turtle race from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands? Eleven schools and businesses named a turle and then they watched to see which sea turtle would arrive first and win the race. Tagging the sea creatures has given us wonderful information about their migrations and their challenges. This is a wonderfully informative and entertaining glimpse into the all -important work of protecting these remarkable species of the deep blue sea.