Mote shark scientist shares updates from major expedition on M/V OCEARCH
A team of scientists on a major shark-research expedition aboard the internationally known M/V OCEARCH tagged an 8.5-foot female tiger shark off Fernandina Beach, Fla. March 18, says a participating Mote Marine Laboratory scientist who is collecting and studying shark blood samples in this team effort to learn more about great white sharks in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Although this expedition’s primarily goal is to focus on white sharks, not tiger sharks, OCEARCH has been collaborating with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to tag tiger sharks, and we were all happy to increase the sample size for South Carolina and contribute to learning more about this species,” said Dr. Heather Marshall, Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow.
This multi-partner expedition led by OCEARCH began with an educational outreach day March 15 and officially departed from Jacksonville, Fla. March 16. Overall, the expedition goal is to build upon previous findings and tag, sample and release more great white sharks. Participants hope to better understand the ecology, natural history, and behavior of white sharks in the Atlantic Ocean; and what physiology and health traits the sharks show, especially related to stress, body condition at release and capacity to reproduce.
So far, participants have deployed two scientific tags on one tiger shark. The shark was fitted with a satellite transmitter tag that tracks its location and provides real-time updates to scientists when the shark’s fin surfaces and an external acoustic tag to help monitor its fine scale movements.
The tiger shark was named Georgia by a suggestion off the Periscope application during the live stream of her tagging.
- Georgia the tiger shark can be tracked by the public at: www.ocearch.org
Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Heather Marshall collected blood samples from the tiger shark. While it is often assumed that many sharks survive release, it is critical to understand how often they really do, and how survival rates vary with different circumstances and species. Such data are vital for management of sharks vulnerable to being overfished and/or becoming accidental bycatch.
- Read Marshall’s daily log below for a first-hand account of her research adventures aboard the M/V OCEARCH during March 15-21.
- Read Mote’s initial press release with more details about the expedition.
Mote scientist Dr. Heather Marshall’s daily log of shark research aboard M/V OCEARCH, March 2016
Tuesday March 15
Big day today! I woke up about 6 a.m., had some coffee, and headed out early to get some dry ice from the grocery store. We had some remaining frozen shark blood from white shark Lydia (that we tagged in Jacksonville in 2013) at Mote, which I brought up frozen to give to scientist Doug Adams at Cape Canaveral Scientific.
After I got back to the boat, we were in full swing getting ready for our education event. Atlantic White Shark Conservancy co-founder Cynthia Wigren and Education Specialist Marianne Long joined us on the ship. The three of us, along with graphics designer Julie Patterson, founded The Gills Club. We also have three additional Gills Club scientists joining us for the event, Megan Winton, Hannah Hart, and Mel Gonzalez De Acevedo.
Conversations for The Gills Club began during OCEARCH’s Expedition Cape Code 2013, and today we have brought the two groups back together to actually have a Gills Club event on M/V OCEARCH!
The girls arrived at 2:30 p.m., led by Suzanne Vacirca, who has been organizing Gills Club events in Fernandina Beach. We brought the girls on board, went through ship safety, a background on OCEARCH and Gills Club, and Marianne led the girls through a shark tagging and sampling simulation, which the girls got to actually do on the cradle with the OCEARCH crew.
It was very moving for us to see our club, on the OCEARCH boat where it all began, and have OCEARCH’s support for The Gills Club. The crew was great and gave the girls tours before they left. Soon after, we had dinner and we went to bed anxious to get underway in the morning.
Wednesday March 16, 2016
Day 1 on the water in Jacksonville. I woke up around 6 a.m., and headed upstairs for coffee. Science team members drove the vessel Contender out of St. John’s River, and Captain Brett steered the M/V OCEARCH out of port and down the river. It was a beautiful ride out, nice and sunny, and it was lovely passing under all the Jacksonville bridges.
Eventually I got to work getting myself organized, stowing my gear, organizing my bunk, prepping data sheets and prepping and testing the SPOT tags, which are satellite tags that track the shark’s location and sends data back to scientists when the shark’s dorsal fin breaks the water’s surface.
Then we talked through the tagging protocol and how everything would work when we get a white shark on the cradle. Once the science prep was squared away, I got to work setting up my gear and prepping syringes.
We got to work chumming on the stern. Eventually it got dark, and the Contender came back. Luis made an incredible thanksgiving-style dinner, and we ate turkey, stuffing, salad, mashed potatoes, with pineapple cake for dessert! After dinner we were all pretty tired.
Thursday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day on the boat! This morning I woke up around 6 a.m., and went upstairs for coffee and a delicious egg burrito breakfast from Chef Luis, some of the team headed out for the fishing day on theContender.
Soon after I headed downstairs and made sure my gear was ready for the day, and re-prepped some syringes.After, Cam and I worked to test and prep some additional tags on the trip, and put one on the roof to make sure it was working right. The weather seems to be turning, the day is getting hazy and rain seems close. We fished until the end of the day, and the contender came in at ~8. Engineer Mark played some beautiful guitar music on deck.
Friday, March 18
I woke up at 6 a.m., had some coffee in the galley and eggs and bacon for breakfast. The Contender went out looking for sharks. I mostly managed chumming all day, leaving the volunteers in charge and showing them how to use the rods when I had to step away.
We did a science brief for the day visitors, explaining all the science that will be performed on the cradle. We had delicious taco lunch, which the Contender team came in for, and I chatted with them before they headed back out. I came in to put on a hat as the sun was coming out (before it was cold and I had boots on but needed to change!), and when I came out, some of the fishing gear set up by the Contender began moving, indicating we had a shark.
We called the Contender crew over. They soon found out we had hooked a tiger shark. Even though it wasn’t a white shark, Chris decided to tag it anyway to continue collaborating with Brian Frazier from South Caroline Department of Natural Resources and get more data to add to previous tigers caught in South Carolina.
The cradle was put over, while the Contender walked the shark. I reviewed the science plan with the science team, and spoke with OCEARCH volunteer Lindsay, who would be helping me manage syringes while blood sampling.
Finally, the shark was brought on the cradle. It was a beautiful 8.5’ female tiger. Jimmy got to work ultrasounding while I got a blood sample. Brandon and Fisch attached the SPOT tag, and Cam attached the acoustic tag to help monitor its fine scale movements.
I got a quick blood sample right before release, and we all cleared the cradle, except for Brett who guided the shark off the cradle. She swam off real strong, and we all exchanged high-fives and cheers.
I immediately began processing the blood samples, and we chatted a bit about how things went on the cradle, and which tools to bring out when we get a white shark. The tagging went really well, and it was great to get everyone on the cradle and ready for a white shark! Spirits were high as everyone went back to work. We got set up on the stern again, and I joined them when I was done processing all the samples. We chummed until sunset, when the guys came back in. Mark was playing guitar on deck, and we had the nicest night listening to Mark sing.
Saturday, March 19
I woke up about 6:20 a.m., got dressed, and grabbed some coffee. We had a pancake breakfast, and then I started setting up fishing on the stern again. We are keeping an eye on the set fishing gear and hoping for a shark.
We had fish tacos for lunch, then went back to chumming. Jimmy G’s new graduate student Kat Mowle arrived, and I got her up to speed on the science, and we did a science brief for our visitors. We chummed throughout the day and worked, and did some interviews as well. The day came to a close with the Contender coming in.
Sunday March 20
I woke up at 6:15 a.m., had coffee in the galley and chatted with everyone. The wind was picking up a bit, which feels good and shark-y. We got set up on the stern, and I also helped Caroline estimate weight on the tiger shark we tagged, now named Georgia.
Cam spotted that some of our gear were indicating a possible shark on, and the Contender came in to check them out, but there was no sign of what had broken off the buoys. We resumed chumming, but then Cam, and some guests left. I regrouped for our science plan for Kat and I to perform the science tasks in case we got a shark. After I went back to chumming on the stern and watching the slick from the third floor with music playing. Eventually the day drew to a close, and some weather is coming in. Nice low-key night, then bedtime.
Monday, March 21
I woke up on a slightly more rocky ship, and the temperatures have dropped to the 40s. It’s quite cold, and after coffee, we all pulled out our cold weather gear. This is the type of weather that we caught Lydia in, so, maybe this is our white shark day!
The seas have kicked up a bit overnight, and temperatures dropped, and it has become dangerous to bring in visitors and get them on/off the ship. So we are moving the M/V OCEARCH to another fishing spot, actually where we found Lydia! We were outside of Fernandina Beach and on the Florida-Georgia Line, now we are at Mayport, Fla. The crew prepared for an afternoon of fishing, on the spot where we found Lydia. With the location and weather change, it’s feeling like a sharky day!
Mote Marine Laboratory scientists Dr. Bob Hueter and Dr. Kim Ritchie are now on board, and Brian Frazier from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. So we have a full science team, we are on the spot looking for our next Lydia.