Expedition 94: Shark Handling Workshop

Scientists from Florida International University’s Predator Ecology & Conservation (PEC) Lab and Heithaus Lab for Marine Community & Behavioral Ecology, both within the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, spent a day onboard R/V ANGARI to sharpen their shark fieldwork skills. During this shark handling workshop, they practiced setting up and deploying drumlines, specialized gear used for shark research, while also reviewing techniques for handling sharks and collecting vital data.

Throughout the day, the team successfully caught six sharks representing four species: an Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), two nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), two lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirrostris) and a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Scientists carefully measured the sharks, tagged them with identification tags from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Cooperative Shark Tagging Program (CSTP), collected tissue samples and assessed their sex and maturity.

This successful workshop not only allowed the participants to practice their fieldwork techniques but also provided valuable data to further the understanding of shark biology, behavior and conservation. The insights gained, both from the data collected during the workshop and the future research it enables, will contribute to ongoing efforts to study and protect sharks in South Florida and beyond.