The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 9: June 1997
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Shark Specialist Group to Have Web Homepage
A Shark Specialist Group homepage to be placed aboard the World
Wide Web has recently been constructed by webpage editor George
Burgess and his staff at the Florida Museum of Natural History and is
now accessible through the Florida Museum's Ichthyology homepage:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish.
The page is intended to serve as the SSG's window to millions of
viewers currently utilising the electronic information exchange
network. The Florida Museum's Ichthyology homepage, where the
SSG site resides, already draws more than a thousand viewers a day,
ensuring that a large audience will seek access to the new site.
Initially, the site will provide breaking information about SSG
activities, furnish a membership list, and will include electronic
versions of the organisation's newsletter. When completed, the Action
Plan will also be posted. Our intention is to use the site to present
scientifically accurate, visually interesting copy to the non-scientifically
trained sector as well as to fellow scientists.
The Web is a powerful medium that, if used in an enlightened
manner, can help influence the mindset of thousands of viewers. We
therefore seek the input of all SSG members in developing material for
inclusion on the page. Burgess has penned a short review of shark
conservation, the status of western North Atlantic shark populations,
and regional fishery management which has appeared on that region's
homepage (which will be incorporated into the larger site). It would
be nice to receive similar reviews from our other regional groups for
posting. News of upcoming international or regional meetings, breaking
situations regarding immediate threats or regulatory hearings, newly
appearing publications, announced SSG deadlines etc . are all
appropriate additions to the site.
A home page is only useful if it is current and growing - we will
need the cooperation of SSG members to really make it work.
Electronic versions are the preferred means of submittal because they
greatly reduce expenditures of time. These may be submitted by email
to the webpage editor at
gburgess@flmnh.ufl.edu or on disks by
mail to
George H. Burgess
Florida Museum of Natural History,
University of Florida,
Museum Road,
Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Hard copies, if only
available in this format, also may be submitted and will be scanned.
Authors will be duly credited. Colour photographs, figures and other
graphics are essential additions to any text submission, offering visual
relief and drawing in viewers. These may be submitted electronically
or as slides or prints.
We also independently solicit the submission of colour
photographs/slides of any shark species, shark-related activity, shark
researcher, etc. These will be digitised and archived, and the originals
returned to the photographers. Any photograph used aboard the page
will credit the photographer and note that the images are copyrighted.
If we don't get enough good shark photos we will be forced to use
Burgess' own photographs, which have never been compared
favourably with those of leaders in the field.
Please help make the page a success by contributing to it.
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