She backs legislation to protect her swim partner a 20-foot shark By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.24.19 Word Count 628 Level 820L Ocean Ramsey, a shark researcher and advocate, swims with a large great white shark off the shore of Oahu, Hawaii, January 15, 2019. Ramsey told The Associated Press on January 17 that images of her swimming next to a huge great white shark prove that these top predators should be protected, not feared. Photo by: Juan Oliphant/AP Photo HALIEWA, Hawaii Recently, two shark experts came face to face with a great white shark. It could be one of the largest great whites ever recorded. The scientists are using their experience as an opportunity to push for laws to protect sharks. Ocean Ramsey is a shark scientist and conservationist. She swam with the 20-foot great white shark January 15. It was circling a dead sperm whale off the coast of Oahu, a Hawaiian island. The event was videoed and photographed by her partner, Juan Oliphant. He posted the event on social media and it became very popular quickly. Oliphant said it's unclear if the shark is the famed Deep Blue. Deep Blue is believed to be the largest great white ever recorded. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1
"She looks the part right now," Oliphant said about the shark spotted that day. But it would be a good thing if it wasn't Deep Blue. "Maybe even more exciting that there is another super-size great white shark out there," he said. He explained that the number of great white sharks is getting smaller. As A Conservationist, She Supports Law To Protect Sharks Ramsey operates One Ocean Diving with Oliphant. She has been pushing for several years for a bill that would stop the killing of sharks and rays in Hawaii. She hopes this year it will become law. She said the images of her swimming next to the huge shark prove that the predators should be protected. People should not fear them. She said she previously swam with the huge shark in Mexico. Still, the experienced shark diver thinks people should be careful. She said the general public should not recklessly get into the water with the giants. It is risky, especially around a food source like a rotting whale body. Ramsey has had much training and time spent studying shark behavior. This has kept her team and customers safe. She leads cage-free shark diving tours. She teaches people about how to act and, more importantly, how not to act when they meet a shark in the water. Ramsey and her team also observe shark behavior. They identify and tag sharks and share their data with scientists and the Hawaiian government. Hawaiian Senator To Push Legislation Unlike many ocean animals such as sea lions and dolphins, sharks are not protected by the law. There are laws against the sale of their fins only. Mike Gabbard is a state senator for Hawaii. He plans to move forward with a shark protection law this year. People tend not to care about sharks "because of the way they're portrayed in media and they don't have the cute cuddly appearance," Ramsey said. "You can't hate them for being predators. We need them for healthy marine ecosystems." Ramsey and Oliphant want to make sure that people realize that shark bites are uncommon. "The idea that they see people as a food source" is not true, said Oliphant. This way of thinking is leading to a decrease in the shark population. Still, people need to be careful. The rotting whale body had drifted to about eight miles off the coast of Oahu. There have been reports that people are climbing onto the dead body, or carcass, to take its teeth as souvenirs. This is against the law. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2
Jason Redull works for the state of Hawaii to protect its land and animals. He understands that people are interested in seeing a dead whale. They want a closer look or to get a picture, but people should stay out of the water. "It is truly dangerous to be around this carcass with so much shark activity," he said. Redull admires the shark from land. He said it's remarkable that it avoided fishing nets and other dangers that he called "human death traps." This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3
Quiz 1 Read the introduction [paragraphs 1-5]. Which selection from the introduction shows WHY Oliphant hopes that he spotted a shark other than Deep Blue? The event was videoed and photographed by her partner, Juan Oliphant. He posted the event on social media and it became very popular quickly. Oliphant said it's unclear if the shark is the famed Deep Blue. Deep Blue is believed to be the largest great white ever recorded. "She looks the part right now," Oliphant said about the shark spotted that day. But it would be a good thing if it wasn't Deep Blue. "Maybe even more exciting that there is another super-size great white shark out there," he said. He explained that the number of great white sharks is getting smaller. 2 Read the section "Hawaiian Senator To Push Legislation." Which selection from this section supports the conclusion that it is life-threatening to get near the dead whale? The rotting whale body had drifted to about eight miles off the coast of Oahu. There have been reports that people are climbing onto the dead body, or carcass, to take its teeth as souvenirs. "It is truly dangerous to be around this carcass with so much shark activity," he said. He said it's remarkable that it avoided fishing nets and other dangers that he called "human death traps." 3 What effect do current laws in Hawaii have on sharks? They stop people from killing sharks, but they do not stop people from buying their fins. They stop people from selling shark fins fins, but do not stop people from killing them. They allow sharks to receive protection from the government, but people can still study them. They allow sharks to be studied by people, and they allow them to receive government protection. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4
4 According to the section "As A Conservationist, She Supports Law To Protect Sharks," how does Ocean Ramsey run her tours for One Ocean Diving? She teaches people safe things to do around sharks and what not to sharks. She then takes them diving without protective cages. She teaches people about the laws she wants to pass to help sharks. She then takes them to watch the sharks from the land. She shows people how to identify and tag sharks to gather data. She then takes them back to analyze the data they found. She shows people how to take great pictures with sharks. She then takes them to where the sharks are feeding on dead whales. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5