While a lot of the shark focus is centered on nice whites alongside Cape Cod this time of 12 months, one other shark species has been making waves in recent times off of Nantucket.
Sandbar sharks, after the native inhabitants was decimated many years in the past due to overfishing, are actually all around the Nantucket coast — and a researcher on the New England Aquarium has tagged greater than 120 sandbar sharks within the space.
Caroline Collatos, a PhD scholar and shark researcher on the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, has been catching, tagging and releasing sandbar sharks off of Nantucket for the final three years.
“We’re starting to see a potential rebound now with sandbar sharks,” Collatos not too long ago instructed the Herald, noting that there weren’t practically as many sandbar sharks within the water when rising up within the Nineteen Nineties.
The native shark inhabitants had been worn out due to overfishing for his or her giant dorsal fin, which was extremely desired for shark soup.
Then in 2008, sandbar sharks have been protected in state and federal waters — resulting in the gradual inhabitants rebound in recent times.
The 120-plus sandbar sharks that Collatos has tagged are principally grownup females, measuring as much as 6.5 toes. Many of the sharks are discovered very near shore.
“I also find it interesting about their preference for certain areas over others,” Collatos stated. “I’m trying to figure out if that’s more impacted by predators or prey.”
The researchers catch the sandbar sharks by luring them with a bit of bluefish on a hook. The scientists then tag the shark, measure the animal, take away the hook, and let the shark swim away.
Collatos’ purpose is to assemble knowledge utilizing acoustic telemetry in regards to the annual presence, habitat use, and migration patterns of the native shark inhabitants.
It’s a long-term research to raised perceive the habits and tendencies among the many sharks there every year.
“Part of the larger goal of this research program is promoting management and conservation with accurate, scientific-based information,” Collatos stated.
New England Aquarium’s shark analysis crew around the globe is tagging and monitoring numerous species, starting from nurse sharks and oceanic white tip sharks to bull sharks, sand tigers, sandbar, and white sharks.
There are greater than 500 species of sharks on this planet, and scientists within the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life have tagged greater than 40 completely different species and associated animals within the wild, many
of them in New England waters.
Those who wish to donate to Collatos’ shark analysis can e mail her at [email protected]. People may also donate to the Aquarium by visiting www.neaq.org/have interaction/assist.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”