If you are very intrigued by sharks and want to learn
more about their habitat and behaviors, the Guy Harvey Research Institute is
the place for you. They do a lot of work revolving around marine conservation,
but one of the important projects that they do is their work with sharks.
A common misconception that many people have is that shark
tagging hurts the shark. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS! Shark tags are typically attached
to the first dorsal fin, which does not have any nerve supply. No nerves, no
pain! Before thinking about the potential stress brought to the tagged sharks, think
about all the good that comes from the data collected.
Now that we have gotten this misconception out of the
way, let’s talk about the important data that can be collected from the tags
attached to each caught shark. When the Guy Harvey Research Institute tags
their sharks, they will set out to 10 different locations with bait. The first
two lines are 25 feet, the next two lines are 40 feet, the following two lines
are 60 feet, the two lines after that are 80 feet long, and the last two lines
are 100 feet long. The bait put with each line is either the head, middle or
tail of the bait. The lines are left for about 2 hours, and then they are
brought back onto the boat, with or without the bait on the hook. If the bait
is on the hook, that is recorded, and the bait is thrown in for a second round
of catches. If there is no longer any bait, more another piece of bait is put
on the hook and sent out. The type (head, middle, or tail) of the bait is
recorded, as well as the time it is thrown out to sea.
As for what everyone is waiting for, what happens when there is a shark caught on the line? The time of the catch is recorded, as well as the species. The shark is then situated in the water to be tagged. Once tagged, the tag number is recorded to keep track of each of the sharks. The sex of the shark, pre caudal length, fork length, and total length are all recorded. This data can be used research patterns in the species, as well as their characteristics.
Not only is the data collection important, but the
education and outreach side of the project is necessary. The more people that
know about these beautiful creatures and their habitats, the more protection
they will be provided. If you want to learn more about the Guy Harvey Research Institute
and what they are all about, click here.
Also, if you want to learn more about the shark conservation efforts throughout Florida, visit Environmental Groups in Florida . There are plenty of ways to get involved and better our wildlife!
Hey Alyssa, considering I also collected the data with you during this excursion, I'd love to make a comment on the experience. Through the years of data collection in school, this was slightly different and to be honest more interesting because it involved something I want to incorporate into my career. In terms of the data collection itself, I enjoyed how the head, middle, or tail region was specified to notice any patterns, and once a shark was caught, the tagging information was also organized well. During the whole experience, I found everyone on the team to be extremely helpful and kind towards not only use university students but the girl scouts in teaching them the process to bait, catch, and tag a shark of any species.
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