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SHARKS AND RAYS OF THE BAHAMAS

Located in the Atlantic Ocean, the island nation of The Bahamas is home to over 40 species of sharks and rays. In 2011 The Bahamas established a shark sanctuary, prohibiting the landing or possession of sharks and shark parts. The Bahamas is arguably “The Shark Diving Capital of the World,” with people traveling from across the globe to see these amazing animals up close. A study released in 2017 found that sharks and rays generate $113.8 million USD annually through eco-tourism.  

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Explore our lessons plans and resources to learn more!

The Bahamas Shark Sanctuary is a significant conservation initiative aimed at protecting sharks in The Bahamas' waters. It was the first shark sanctuary in the Atlantic. Established in 2011, it encompasses over 630,000 square kilometers (243,000 square miles) of ocean, making it one of the largest shark sanctuaries in the world. Overall, The Bahamas Shark Sanctuary exemplifies proactive conservation measures to preserve marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable management of shark populations in the region.

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All shark fishing is banned throughout the sanctuary. This ban includes capturing, landing, selling, and possessing sharks and shark products.

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The sanctuary aims to conserve shark populations, recognizing their ecological importance in marine ecosystems and their vulnerability to overfishing.

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The sanctuary promotes shark-related eco-tourism activities, such as shark diving, which provides economic benefits while encouraging conservation awareness. It also supports research efforts to understand better shark behavior, migration patterns, and population dynamics.

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The establishment of The Bahamas Shark Sanctuary has contributed to global efforts to protect sharks and has served as a model for other countries considering similar measures.

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The sanctuary has helped raise public awareness about the importance of sharks in marine environments and the threats they face from human activities like fishing and habitat destruction.

VIDEOS WITH WORKSHEETS

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CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS

GRADE: ELEMENTARY/PRIMARY

WORKSHEET - PDF 

 

Download this worksheet and the answer key. Refer to the corresponding video of Caribbean Reef Sharks provided above. 

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CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS

GRADE: ELEMENTARY/PRIMARY

ANSWER KEY - PDF

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Download this worksheet and the answer key. Refer to the corresponding video of Caribbean Reef Sharks provided above. 

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CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS

GRADE: MIDDLE SCHOOL

WORKSHEET - PDF 

 

Download this worksheet and the answer key. Refer to the corresponding video of Caribbean Reef Sharks provided above. 

Middle-CaribbeanReefSharks-ANSWERKEY.png

CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS

GRADE: MIDDLE SCHOOL

ANSWER KEY - PDF

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Download this worksheet and the answer key. Refer to the corresponding video of Caribbean Reef Sharks provided above. 

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CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS

GRADE: HIGH SCHOOL

WORKSHEET - PDF 

 

Download this worksheet and the answer key. Refer to the corresponding video of Caribbean Reef Sharks provided above. 

HS-CaribbeanReefSharks-ANSWERKEY.png

CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS

GRADE: HIGH SCHOOL

ANSWER KEY - PDF

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Download this worksheet and the answer key. Refer to the corresponding video of Caribbean Reef Sharks provided above. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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Mangroves - High School - Lesson

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Mangroves - High School - Answers

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The Bahamas Mangroves - Activity

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Great Hammerhead & Tiger Shark

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Oceanic Whitetip Shark

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Lemon sharks & Mangroves

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Sharks & Rays Share a Space

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Bull Shark - Coloring Sheet

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Well-known Sharks of The Bahamas

CaribbeanSharks.jpg

Caribbean Sharks - Coloring Sheet

LemonShark-Negaprion-brevirostris.jpg

Lemon Shark - Coloring Sheet

NurseShark-Ginglymostoma-cirratum.jpg

Nurse Shark - Coloring Sheet

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Color the Tiger Sharks & Divers

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Silky Shark - Coloring Sheet

OceanicWhitetipSharks-facts-coloringsheet.jpg

Oceanic Whitetip - Coloring Sheet

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Tiger Shark - Coloring Sheet

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Sharks & Rays - The Bahamas

BullShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Bull Shark - Poster

CaribbeanReefShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Caribbean Reef Shark - Poster

GreatHammerheadShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Great Hammerhead - Poster

LemonShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Lemon Shark - Poster

NurseShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Nurse Shark - Poster

OceanicWhitetipShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Oceanic Whitetip - Poster

TigerShark-InfographicPoster.jpg

Tiger Shark - Poster

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Smalltooth Sawfish - Poster

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Southern Stingray - Poster

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Spotted Eagle Ray - Poster

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Atlantic Sharpnose - Facts

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Blacknose Shark - Facts

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Blacktip Shark - Facts

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Caribbean Reef Shark - Facts

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Caribbean Roughshark - Facts

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Dusky Smooth-Hound - Facts

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Great Hammerhead - Facts

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Lemon Shark - Facts

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Nurse Shark - Facts

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Oceanic Manta Ray - Facts

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Oceanic Whitetip - Facts

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Silky Shark - Facts

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Smalltooth Sawfish - Facts

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Southern Stingray - Facts

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Spotted Eagle Ray - Facts

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Tiger Shark - Facts

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Yellow Stingray - Facts

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REFERENCE SOURCES

Dive into our REFERENCES page to access the cited works we referred to for all this sharktastic data.

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SHIVER: Collective noun for a group of sharks.

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The goal of Sharks4Kids is to create a new generation of shark advocates through access to a dynamic range of educational materials and experiences.

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