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Subscriber only The region s seas are proving a veritable aquatic playground for rare marine life with many special sightings in recent months. Just last week a rare albino green turtle hatchling was seen making its way to the water on Lady Elliot Island and a whale shark was seen off Lady Musgrave Island. Now a large number of cownose rays were spotted off Lady Elliot Island, a sight rarely seen in the waters off the tiny coral cay. The fever of rays were spotted by Lady Elliot Island Master Reef Guide Jacinta Shackleton as she was snorkelling. She said it looked like the rays were dancing in sync across the reef .
Of the 31 species tested, it found 24 were now threatened with extinction, and three species (the oceanic whitetip, the scalloped and great hammerhead sharks) had declined so sharply that they were now classified as critically endangered. Prof Simpfendorfer said despite the bad news, great white sharks and the great hammerhead shark populations in the Northwest Atlantic appeared to be recovering due to strict US laws now protecting them. Fishing limits are needed immediately to prevent shark and ray population collapses. Governments should adopt, implement, and enforce - at domestic and regional levels - science-based catch limits and other protective measures, professor Simpfendorfer said.