How Fishermen Contribute to Shark Research
For centuries, sharks have inspired a mixture of awe, fear, and respect. Their sleek bodies cutting through oceans with prehistoric elegance, along with their size and predatory nature, demand from folks living on the New England coastline. Every summer, shark-themed decorations can be seen throughout coastal towns, networks share shark-related stories, and you’ll find many ocean lovers going “shark crazy”. For anglers, though, the relationship with sharks can be very different. For some, the presence of sharks in open water adds an extra challenge to successfully landing a fish; for others, it is fascinating to see these large ocean predators up close.
Despite appearing widespread at times, many shark species in New England are declining in population and face numerous threats. The shortfin mako shark population, for example, has declined as much as 80% since 1970, according to estimates. Recognizing this issue, Jon Dodd, a lifelong angler and marine biologist, founded the Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI) to build a bridge between commercial fishing and shark researchers. This partnership aims to improve scientific understanding and better management of sharks in the Atlantic Ocean.
Founding the Atlantic Shark Institute: A Collaboration Between Fishermen and Scientists
Dodd is a proud Rhode Islander, conservationist, and outdoorsman. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in marine biology, and has been fascinated with the ocean since he was a child. His affinity for sharks began when he and a friend found a large blue shark swimming off Connecticut.
Dodd realized that the vast experience of anglers could be harnessed for shark research. Many sharks caught in fishing gear are considered “bycatch,” non-target species that are inadvertently caught and released back into the ocean. Instead of viewing these interactions solely as problematic, Dodd saw an opportunity. He proposed that commercial fishermen and biologists work together to tag and study these accidentally-caught sharks, creating a collaboration between two often-opposing groups: the fishing industry and scientists/biologists.
A visit to a commercial fisherman friend began the process of creating partnerships with commercial anglers in the Rhode Island and greater New England area. Jon slowly created relationships with boat captains, one by one, until he had a network of fishermen aiding in shark research.
“It is invaluable to have eyes and ears on the water in a collaborative way,” Dodd says. ASI benefits the fishermen by producing good data. Good reporting leads to good decision-making that makes the resource safe and sustainable for everyone on the water.
Thus, ASI was born, with a mission to conduct cutting-edge shark research while forging partnerships between commercial fishermen and marine biologists. The heart of this initiative is ASI’s Shark Tagging Program that partners commercial fishing vessels with satellite and acoustic tags. When fishermen accidentally catch sharks, they can tag and release them, providing valuable data on their migration, behavior, and population health.
Bringing Fishermen and Scientists Together for Shark Research
The key to ASI’s success lies in its simple yet innovative model: integrating commercial fishermen into shark research. Fishermen, who have years of experience navigating the Atlantic and often encounter sharks as bycatch, are ideal partners. By training them to properly identify, handle, tag, and release sharks, ASI turns what might have been a lost opportunity into an invaluable scientific contribution.
Fishermen are uniquely positioned to help with shark research. They are out at sea for days, sometimes weeks at a time, traversing waters that are difficult for scientists to access regularly. By partnering with fishermen, ASI gains access to these remote areas and ensures a consistent data flow. Each tagged shark provides scientists with crucial insights into species diversity, density, fine-scale movements, broad-scale movements, and the risks different species face.
“We’re in the same ocean,” Dodd explains, “and both scientists and fishermen care about its health. By working together, we can better understand sharks and the role they play in maintaining that balance.”
Shark Species Studied by the Atlantic Shark Institute
ASI focuses on a variety of shark species, each with its own unique ecological role and conservation status. Some of the species regularly studied include the great white shark, mako, thresher, blue, porbeagle, and sand tiger.
Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Perhaps the most iconic shark species, the great white shark is a top predator in the Atlantic Ocean. Growing up to 20 feet in length, they have been known to migrate long distances, from the coastlines of North America to the waters of the mid-Atlantic. Despite their fearsome reputation, great white sharks are vulnerable to human activity, especially bycatch and habitat loss. Through tagging programs, ASI tracks their migration routes and studies how they interact with their environment, helping ensure the future health and sustainability of the species as well as reducing potential conflicts between humans and sharks.
Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
A shark that Jon dubs “the Porsche of the sea,” the shortfin mako is the fastest and perhaps most agile shark in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Their speed makes them formidable hunters, often preying on fish such as tuna and swordfish. However, their status as a prized gamefish has put them under significant pressure from both recreational and commercial fishing. ASI’s research on mako sharks focuses on understanding their migration patterns and population dynamics, which is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Easily identifiable by its long, whip-like tails, a thresher shark is a solitary hunter that use its tail to stun prey. While they are less frequently encountered than some other shark species, they are still susceptible to being caught in fishing gear. ASI’s work with thresher sharks involves studying their unique hunting behaviors and migration patterns, as well as assessing their vulnerability to fishing pressures.
Blue Shark (Prionace glauca)
The blue shark is known for its strikingly slender body and vibrant blue coloration. Their swimming behavior greatly differs from other pelagic species, appearing almost rubbery in the water. They are highly migratory and are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world, including the Atlantic. While their population is relatively healthy, they are frequently caught as bycatch due to their wide-ranging habitat and curious nature. ASI’s tagging program provides data on blue sharks’ movement, which can help minimize bycatch by educating fishermen on avoiding areas where they are most commonly encountered.
Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
The sand tiger shark prefers shallow water and is occasionally encountered by commercial and recreational fishermen. They are slow to reproduce, making them especially vulnerable to population decline. ASI’s work with sand tiger sharks aims to protect critical habitat, assess population status, and review their accidental capture in fishing gear.
Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus)
A species of mackerel shark, the porbeagle is occasionally dubbed as a “miniature white shark” because it has a similar shape but is much smaller (growing to a length of 10 feet). Their range extends up into the northern Atlantic ocean and they tend to favor cooler waters. Porbeagles feed on bony fish and squid species, and like almost all of the sharks that ASI studies, their population is in decline.
The Importance of Shark Research for Ocean Health
Sharks are referred to as the “apex predators” of the ocean, meaning they are often at the top of the food chain. As such, they can play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. By controlling the populations of other species, they help prevent habitat degradation, habitat destruction, overgrazing of seagrass beds and coral reefs, and help maintain species diversity and density, which are critical.
Unfortunately, sharks are among the most threatened species in the ocean. Overfishing, bycatch, and habitat loss have all contributed to the decline of many shark populations. The work of organizations like ASI is vital to understand how to reverse these trends.
Through its partnerships with commercial fishermen and innovative research techniques, ASI is helping ensure that sharks can continue to fulfill their essential role in the ocean for generations to come. Each shark researched by ASI and its partners provides valuable data, bringing scientists closer to understanding how to protect these magnificent creatures.
As Dodd and his team at ASI continue their work, one thing is clear: collaboration between those who fish the waters and those who study them is key to the future of shark conservation. To Dodd, his message to anglers who want to be involved can’t be any simpler: “We need you, we want you, and the more people we involve, the better our research will be.” Collaborating with fishermen can considerably cut the amount of time for a field season and is critical for ASI to decrease the number of wasted days. “To consistently have good days, you need to have a consistent resource,” Dodd says, “Sustainability is all of our responsibility.”
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Source: https://onthewater.com/how-fishermen-contribute-to-shark-research
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