On our shark tagging experience today, we tagged Bruce from Finding Nemo! If you find him with band number 297, could you please report
the information on the label back to the Guy Harvey Research Institution!
So…we did not
actually tag a great white shark today, but we did manage to tag, swab, and
release a 4-and-a-half-foot Sand Bar shark. The shark was brought up by hand
with the line, a tail rope was placed around the tail (don’t worry mom…by the
professionals of course), and tagged. First, we punched a hole in its fin using
a hole puncher. Then, the tag was placed in. Each shark tagged has a unique
number and directions of information to report back to the Guy Harvey Research Institute
of where the shark was found, how long it is, and the email to report to.
Read more on the Sand Bar Shark… https://aqua.org/explore/animals/sandbar-shark
After the tag goes in, the shark’s fin was then clipped for
genetic testing. He was also identified as a male due to two claspers on the underside
of his body. Four swabs are taken also; under the dorsal fin, cloaca, gill
slits, and gum/teeth. I was able to swab the dorsal fin. Everyone was able to
get a picture with the shark and then it was safely untied and released back. The
shark also came with two Remoras under him. They were biting at Dereck’s, the
head researcher, toes!
It is extremely important to support these efforts in
understanding the migration tracks, species diversity and genetic make-up of
these South Floridian sharks due to the immense killings by human fishing
leading to depletion of this top predator. As we learned in class, the trophic
cascade is managed by the top predators and as they start to drop in numbers,
the entire ecosystem reaps the destruction. Supporting Dereck’s team of
researchers can help save the shark population by educating the public about the
importance of these creatures to the ecosystem. Supporting a safe relationship
with sharks could be their only hope for conservation efforts and species
rebound! Save Bruce! Sharks are friends not enemies!
Link to research done by Guy Harvey Research Institute at
NOVA http://cnso.nova.edu/ghri/research/shark-conservation-ecology-research.html
I really hoped we would catch more than a sandbar shark but that's OK! That means the sharks are elsewhere, trying to avoid being caught by humans. I really hope, though, that other big groups of people/students can come out on these trips like these to learn more and support the cause, too!
ReplyDeleteI was happy to find out that their fins are made of cartridge just like our ears so the punching of the whole was near painless for this amazing sandbar shark! We should have gave him a nice stud to make his shark friends jealous 👂 #blangblang
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely a once in a life time experience. I felt so bad for those who got sick and couldn't participate with us... Hopefully one day they will get to go out and do it again! I know I will if I ever get the chance.
ReplyDeleteFish are friends not food.
ReplyDelete