A five-day expedition into the Gulf Coast was a learning experience for local college students, but also gave scientists reassurance that shark populations are rebounding.
From April 17 through 21, five scientists, two graduate students and 40 undergraduate students climbed aboard the Florida Institute of Oceanography’s ship R/V Bellows. Participating groups included Mote Marine Laboratory, The Nature Conservancy, New College of Florida and Eckerd College.
The students were able to help attach either acoustic, satellite or plastic ID tags on a total of 34 sharks, focusing their study on blacktip, bull, blacknose and tiger sharks. Ten of the blacktip sharks were pregnant; from these females, blood samples were taken and ultrasounds were performed.