ANGARI Foundation Receives Grant to Continue Shark Expedition Program in South Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida (February 10, 2026) ─ ANGARI Foundation has been awarded $20,000 by the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back grant program to help continue their flagship educational expedition program Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks (COE: Sharks). This year, the grant will fund two COE: Sharks expeditions for Title 1 students in the fall, and a summer expedition for marine science educators.

“We are ecstatic to have the continued support of the Palm Beach International Boat Show, which is a valued community partner and strong advocate of marine science education,” said Angela Rosenberg, president of ANGARI Foundation.

COE: Sharks features classroom visits and full-day, at-sea expeditions for students ages 12 to 18, and educators, aboard the R/V ANGARI, the Foundation’s 65-foot research vessel. Participants work alongside scientists from Florida International University (FIU) to fish for, tag, and collect valuable data in support of shark research and conservation efforts.  These experiences equip participants with STEM knowledge and hands-on involvement related to at-sea operations, marine industry careers, the nature and practice of science, research tools and techniques, data collection, and more.

Measurements and samples collected from the sharks are important to understanding South Florida’s local shark populations. The acoustic tags used in the program emit signals that are detected underwater, allowing FIU researchers to understand shark behavior, migration patterns, and habitat use. It also helps scientists better understand sharks’ ecological roles, population status, and the threats they may face.

Since COE: Sharks began in 2018, ANGARI has hosted 54 expeditions, bringing aboard 798 participants consisting of educators and students. Participants have helped catch, tag, and release 118 sharks from eight different species. Through the program, the Foundation has also completed 41 school visits with marine scientists, showcasing interactive activities in the classroom, along with mock demonstrations of shark measuring and tagging.

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