Students and educators from Palm Beach Lakes Community High School joined ANGARI crew and scientists from Florida International University (FIU) aboard R/V ANGARI for a day of hands-on shark research.
EXPEDITION DETAILS
September 29, 2026
Palm Beach County, FL
Daritzel Cintro-Nieves
Michelle Debbaudt
Mia Gabb
Victoria Goldner
Lindsey Pierce
Emily Spurgeon
All sharks were fished for, caught, studied and released for research purposes under Florida permits held by Florida International University scientists.
A group of students and educators from Palm Beach Lakes Community High School joined the ANGARI crew and scientists from Florida International University’s (FIU) College of Arts, Sciences and Education aboard R/V ANGARI for a day of hands-on marine science through our Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks program! Before departing the dock, students gathered on the vessel’s flybridge for an overview of the day’s research activities. After learning about the different tasks they would be assisting with, students were divided into groups and got to work exploring the methods scientists use onboard.
The morning kicked off with the assembly, deployment and retrieval of a baited remote underwater video system (BRUVS). Students worked alongside FIU scientists to attach the BRUVS arm, bait cage and GoPro camera to its metal frame before deploying the system to the seafloor. After spending an hour underwater, the team retrieved the BRUVS and reviewed the footage to identify the different species observed and measure their abundance. This noninvasive research method gave students a closer look at how scientists monitor marine life and study biodiversity in local waters.
With BRUVS research complete, it was time to turn the team’s attention to shark research! FIU scientists introduced students to drumlines, a type of fishing gear used to safely catch and study large predators, including sharks. Students helped bait circle hooks, deploy weighted lines and release the attached yellow buoys into the water. As one of the lines was retrieved, students discovered an unexpected catch waiting at the other end: a nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)! Due to some bad weather affecting our research location, the FIU scientists conducted the shark workup and released the shark as the students observed. After the successful release of the nurse shark, the team moved to the Lake Worth Lagoon to continue their research effort and avoid the rough weather conditions.
Throughout the expedition, students helped deploy and retrieve 15 drumlines while gaining firsthand experience with the techniques researchers use to study sharks. Students, educators, scientists and crew wrapped up the day with new research skills, a better understanding of marine science and a memorable experience aboard R/V ANGARI.
This expedition was made possible with funding from the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back grant program.
CHIEF SCIENTIST
Emily Spurgeon grew up in Minnesota before moving to California to earn her B.S. in Biological Sciences from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She then joined the California State University, Long Beach Shark Lab, where she completed her M.S. studying the movement and behavior of juvenile white sharks in Southern California nursery habitats. Her research combined acoustic telemetry, autonomous underwater vehicles, aerial drones, and real-time tracking to understand the fine-scale behavior of juvenile white sharks and how they interact with their environment. Following her masters, Emily continued at the Shark Lab as a full-time research technician, leading field research, mentoring students, and participating in extensive public outreach and science communication. Emily is now a Ph.D. candidate in the Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab at Florida International University under the advisement of Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou. Her research investigates how environmental conditions shape the movement, behavior, and resource use of large coastal sharks, including juvenile white, bull, and sandbar sharks. By integrating acoustic telemetry, biologging camera tags, and stable isotope analysis, she examines how sharks adjust their behavior across habitats while maintaining their ecological roles. In addition to her doctoral research, Emily continues to work as a research technician with Saving the Blue, contributing to shark research and conservation initiatives throughout The Bahamas and eastern Florida. Emily currently serves as lead scientist for ANGARI’s Palm Beach County based Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks program aboard R/V ANGARI.
