News

SHARK TRACKING: The process and risks of tagging

Saturday, August 10, 2013, 7:04 PM -

It's the height of the great white shark migration in the waters off Cape Cod. 

The sharks are extremely vulnerable -- but now a team of scientists and fishermen have launched an ambitious project to help save them. 

In a heart-stopping method, scientists are attempting to track and tag these fierce predators of the deep. 

By tagging and studying the sharks, scientists hope it will allow them to learn more about great white's biology. 

The team has about 15-minutes to take blood and tissue samples, place 4 tags on the shark and check to see if it's got any health problems. 

Once the shark is on the lift, hydration is crucial. Scientists place a hose through the shark's mouth to pump water through its gills. Once the samples are collected, the crew give the shark a name and set it free. 

Each year, about about five people are killed by shark attacks, but humans kill at least 38-million sharks a year. 

So what happens if the shark population is decimated even more? 

"If you remove those top predators and something on which they feed may come out of balance- and that which they feed upon could suddenly be driven down - you get this cascade of effects that ultimately causes real problems - not only for the ocean but also really for man," said Ocearch Chief Scientist, Greg Skomal.