Great video explaining how shark tags work. 

We are so excited to have been a part of this trip! 

You can follow Berry the tiger shark here: http://rjd.miami.edu/learning-tools/follow-sharks/track-berry.html

More from our trip to the South Berry Islands MPA! 

In this video, Neil Hammerschlag, PhD, leading Shark Tagging Scientist with R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program at the University of Miami, talks about the severe threats facing tiger and great hammerhead sharks, their peculiar nature and the great challenges of shark research in the newly created MPA in the South Berry Islands, Bahamas.

Enjoy this clip of our team taking measurements and tagging a lemon shark while in the Bahamas 

Other than a hairy paddle-boarding excursion across the open ocean with the first man to have crossed the Bering Sea kitesurfing (see this p.s. it was my first time paddle-boarding), I made it back in one piece from the South Berry Islands where I joined The Nature Conservancy and Summit Series in surveying our newly minted MPA. It was a thrill to witness a sanctuary that our game players are helping to support!! There is so much to tell, but some key takeaways are: 

1. Shark research is hard: trying to capture key data, take a biopsy, blood and a dorsal fin sample, as well as fix a satellite tag to a tiger shark in under 7 minutes while keeping it calm is, well, pretty challenging. As one friend on the trip put it, it’s like a Formula 1 pit stop and many things can go wrong. 

2. Patience is a virtue: despite the University of Miami team having extensively chummed the waters the night before and throughout the day, sharks do not show up just like that. We spent several 8-9 hour days in a 25 foot tender surrounded by shark bait and were fortunate to have caught and released 3 sharks on one lucky day - and only 1 had a dorsal fin capable of supporting a satellite tag. Frankly, I think they were on to us.

3. Once you do capture and secure a shark, don’t get off until Neil tells you to: Capturing a shark is like few things I’ve experienced before and you grow deeply concerned about the welfare of the animal. Trying to fasten a satellite tag on the dorsal fin of a tiger shark while straddling its back is tricky - don’t lose your concentration! There’s a lot going on of course and a large team hopping madly around the stern of a not very big boat as the UM scientists shout out commands to us all. But with all the commotion sometimes a few instructions get lost in the shuffle, e.g. “Don’t get off the shark!” I commend Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and his team including Austin, Virginia and Curt for how they are pushing the boundaries of shark research and involving people from all walks of life in the experience in an effort to protect these awesome creatures.

Hats off again to Thayer Walker at Summit Series for bringing together such an interesting group of people on such short notice for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Amazing.

-Gregory

It has a been a month of progress for shark and ocean lovers everywhere. The Marshall Islands declared the world’s largest shark sanctuary and now the state of California’s Governor Jerry Brown has signed into legislation a bill making it illegal for anyone to posses or sell shark fins.

Gov. Brown said “The practice of cutting the fins off of living sharks and dumping them back in the ocean is not only cruel, but it harms the health of our oceans.Researchers estimate that some shark populations have declined by more than 90 percent, portending grave threats to our environment and commercial fishing. In the interest of future generations, I have signed this bill.”

Yet another example of the changes that can come about through hard work and dedication!

We are proud to be partnered with United Conservationists and WildAid, both instrumental in pushing for shark finning bans around the world!

Striking photo. I think this is a mimic octopus from the way it’s shaping its tentacles?

(via beoceanminded)

Dolphins by JoJones on Flickr.

The dolphin population in the Moray Firth in Scotland is estimated to consist of around 150 animals, and is declining by around 6% per year from harassment, traumatic injury, water pollution and reduction in food availability.

Footage of the humpback Whales that winter in the shallow warm waters of Ha’apai in the Kingdom of Tonga.