FGCU-Shark Tagging

This week at Florida Gulf Coast University we did something that I am actually looking to pursue when I graduate; this is catching, sampling, and tagging sharks for research.  This week we went out into the Gulf of Mexico with Dr. Rumbold to catch sharks to sample and tag.  The first thing to do once we were at the location was deploy the baited hooks, anchor and then the buoys.  The circle hooks were baited with different types of bait (mullet, fillets, lady fish and snapper).  These hooks were attached by 25ft of 900lb test line to a swivel around the anchor.  The swivel made it to where when the shark was hooked it was still able to swim to keep the water moving over its gills, to keep it alive.  A rope was also attached to the anchor with buoys on the other end to mark where it was deployed.  We deployed a total of five hooks paralleling the coast then five dew west.  When the first hook we deployed we started a timer for an hour and half, this is when we were to start pulling the hooks back in. 

Shark catching material. 

As we started to collect the hooks there were no sharks on the first two lines.  On the third line we had a 2 meter juvenile female tiger shark.  We placed a tail rope around her tail, and along with the hook in her mouth, we held her to the boat.  While she was there we measured her and took a sample to test for mercury levels.  We also tagged her before she was released back into the ocean. 

Catching the buoys. 

The female tiger shark we sampled. 

The tag we placed was an M-tag that was obtained from NMFS Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.  The tag was placed into the back of her near the dorsal fin. There are many types of shark tags and each has multiple applications for the data that is received back.  The tags can tell dive depth and most importantly location.  The migration routes of sharks is something that can be tracked with the data that is received back from these tags.  Because little is known about the migration routes of sharks this data is very important. .

This was an amazing experience and I am so happy that I was lucky enough to help with the research of my favorite animal.  

Amazing Tiger shark.