Shark Tagging with Duke Alumni 6-20

June 30, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Laurel Zaima, RJD Intern

It was a beautiful Saturday to be on the water! As I drove over the Key Biscayne causeway, you could see the sun shining over the city. I knew it was going to be a great day to go shark tagging. After we loaded the boat with our equipment and the guests were all settled in, we were on our way! Duke Alumni were joining the RJD team for the shark tagging expedition, and they were all excited to become citizen scientists by helping us collect data for our shark research. Some of our guests have never seen a shark up close before, so our RJD team was equally as excited to share this experience with them.

The enthusiastic Duke Alumni were eager to catch some sharks

Led by our RJD trip leader, David Shiffman, and Captain Eric, our enthusiastic RJD team for Saturday’s trip was Christian, Sam, Rachel, Rock, and myself. Cat, our professional photographer, took all the photos for this trip. After a 30-minute run from the marina in Key Biscayne to the offshore site, everyone was ready to set the gear and tag some sharks!

Once we arrived at our site, we deployed our first set of 10 drumlines with the help of our guests, and we let them soak for 1 hour. The waters were sharky because the first shark was caught on the second drumline! Unfortunately, the nurse shark wasn’t hooked in the jaw and ended up popping off the line. Instead of being discouraged, the RJD team and the citizen scientists were hopeful to catch more sharks on the upcoming drumlines. Sure enough, on the sixth line of the first set we caught a female Sandbar shark (2.03 meters total length)! After our team safely secured the Sandbar shark, the Duke Alumni enthusiastically helped to work up the shark, which includes a nictitating membrane reflex test, length measurements, a fin clip, and attaching a spaghetti tag.

Along side the Trip Leader, David Shiffman, and RJD intern, Laurel Zaima, South Florida Duke Alumni Club co-chair T.J. Morales got a chance to feel the rough dermal denticles of a Sandbar Shark’s skin

The RJD team collected the more advanced samples and data, such as blood and morphological measurements. The excitement didn’t die off there because on there was a shark on the following drumline! The seventh drumline had caught a female Nurse shark (2.52 meters total length). The RJD team and Duke Alumni were able to collect data swiftly and accurately, and the shark swam off in great condition.

The only thing you can 100% expect from fishing is that it will be unpredictable. Although our first set was full of action, our second set of drumlines didn’t catch a single fish. Luckily, we had our last set to give us 10 more chances to catch sharks!

The action picked up again on the last set of 10 drumlines. The second and third drumlines of the third set caught male Sandbar sharks (2.02 meters total length; 2.04 meters total length). Both of these male sharks were so close in size and were so similar; it felt like déjà vu. To end the day with a bang, the last shark that we caught on the seventh drumline was a Great Hammerhead shark! The male Great Hammerhead was the largest shark we caught all day at a whopping 2.63 meters total length. This shark was fighting on the line for a long period of time, so we decided to release the Hammerhead without a work up to ensure the health of the shark. The shark samples and data that we collect are important to the conservation of the species, but it is never worth risking the life of a shark. The Great Hammerhead ended up swimming off in great condition.

A Male Great Hammerhead Shark swims off in excellent condition.

It was a perfect, summer, sharky day on the water! The Duke Alumni not only had an opportunity to see and feel a shark for the first time, but they also did a wonderful job helping our team collect shark data that will be used in upcoming research papers. The RJD team was very fortunate to go out with such an enthusiastic group, and we look forward to go shark tagging with Duke Alumni again!

Shark tagging with Grand Classroom Ohio

June 23, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Alison Enchelmaier, RJD student

On Thursday morning I drove to Crandon Marina, wide awake thanks to the full travel mug of coffee in the cup holder. No matter how many times I’ve been on the boat I’m excited, as every trip is a new and thrilling experience. That morning the whole team seemed to be full of energy as we loaded our gear on to the boat, excited for the trip ahead. At 9 am we were joined by our guests, a group of Grand Classroom students from Ohio. As we headed out to our tagging location we talked to the group about shark conservation and RJ Dunlap’s research. When we arrived at North Beach we set out our first ten lines and let them soak for an hour. While we waited, we explained how our guests would be participating in our research and what projects each measurement and sample were for.

After an hour we returned to check our lines. As the weight at the end of the first line landed on the deck I looked to the monofilament and saw it was pulled taut and pointing horizontally in the water, a shark for sure! The line was pulled in and soon we came face to face with a 215 cm (~7 ft) hammerhead! Due to our previous research we know that hammerheads are sensitive to capture stress so the RJD team quickly worked up the shark and released it.

RJD intern Jake helps Emily takes a blood sample from a shark’s caudal vein

We continued to pull lines, already pleased with the day’s turn out. Catching one shark is great and catching a hammerhead is always a wonderful find. Our luck continued as on the 11th line we pulled up a 199 cm (~6.5 ft) sandbar shark. Due to the heartier nature of sandbars, our guests assisted us in our data collection. As we worked up the shark we noticed that the shark already had a tag, and it wasn’t ours! This was the first time I had ever seen us catch one of our own previously tagged sharks, what a rare find! Our team was kept busy as in quick succession we caught two more hammerheads, the largest being a 318 cm (~10.4 ft) female. After that the activity on the lines began to calm down, and we ended the trip with one more hammerhead on line 25.

: A student performs a reflex test to check for stress by streaming water in its eye. By checking for the nictitating eyelid, the sharks ‘eyelid’ we can gauge the shark’s stress levels

In total we caught four hammerheads and one sandbar shark. I couldn’t help but feel lucky at getting to see so many hammerheads in one day. Before today I had seen few of them and to see so many was amazing. Thank you to Grand Classroom: Ohio and the rest of the RJD crew for an amazing day on the water.

A hammerhead shark swims off after workup

Shark Tagging with Aventura City of Excellence School

May 25, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Emily Rose Nelson, RJD student

After collecting gear from RSMAS I met up with the rest of the team at the dock of divers paradise. We had a great crew on board and everyone was excited to get out there. Our guests for the day, students from the Aventura City of Excellence School, made their way on board and immediately I could feel their excitement. There definitely was something in the air telling me it was going to be a great day on the water.

We were fishing at a sight our team has nicknamed “Sandbar Palace.” It is a deep reef, known for being very productive; the first trip ever at this site landed 10 sandbar sharks. The crew was hoping today would continue to prove this site worth the extra effort pulling up deep lines.

Before the drumlines even completed their first one-hour soak time Captain Eric called the team up. He had seen one of our buoys moving around, which is likely a sign of a shark being on the line. We quickly motored over to drumline number 6 and started to pull the line in. Sure enough, we had a big nurse shark! The team safely brought the shark onboard and performed a quick work up procedure. The students from Aventura were great helpers and all had a chance to see the shark up close.

This upside-down view of a Nurse shark’s mouth reveals adaptations for hunting crustaceans, a preferred prey group. The barbels near the nostrils are sensory organs and the small but powerful mouth is filled with tiny teeth, all designed to pulverize the hard shells of crabs and lobsters.

It wasn’t long before we had another shark on! This time, we pulled up a beautiful sandbar shark (the species this site is named after). Sandbars are one of my favorite species because of their beautiful coloring and big eyes. Our team restrained the shark so we could collect measurements, tissue and blood samples, and tag the animal.

A student helps to take measurements of the sandbar shark.

As the day went on we managed to catch 5 more nurse sharks and another sandbar shark- a total of 9 sharks for the day. Blistered hands and shark burned legs are a sign of a great day, Sandbar Palace definitely did not disappoint!

Shark Tagging with Lauderdale Lakes

May 18, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Hanover Matz, RJD intern

May 13^th, 2015. The sea was angry that day, my friends. Well, not quite angry-but the swells were a bit more than we usually bargain for. However, that did not stop the RJD team and the students from Lauderdale Lakes from having a fantastic day of shark tagging. We met at Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures for an exciting day out on the M/V Shear Water. As we loaded the gear onto the boat, we added extensions to our drumlines for deep water fishing offshore, hoping to catch a variety of shark species. The RJD team briefed the students on the protocols we would use for research. Each drumline has a circle hook that safely hooks in the jaw of the sharks, and the monofilament fishing line is attached to a swivel at the base to allow the sharks to continuously swim while hooked. From each shark, the students would help us collect a variety of samples including a nictitating membrane test and length measurements.

RJD interns cut up a barracuda to use as bait. A variety of fish species are used as bait to catch sharks

We quickly deployed ten lines from the stern of the boat, and then left the lines in the water for a standardized 1 hour soak time. During this interval, we collected environmental measurements including water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen concentration. These measurements provide valuable insight towards the different habitats and conditions local shark populations encounter. After collecting this data, we returned to collect our lines and to see if we had caught any sharks.

Our first shark of the day was a large female nurse shark. Nurse sharks are a species that is frequently caught on our tagging trips. Weather conditions made it a bit choppy down on the platform, but the RJD team quickly brought the shark in and secured it for a work up. Nurse sharks differ from other species of sharks in that they lack a nictitating membrane, and are capable of pumping water over their gills without swimming via buccal pumping. These sharks are quite hardy. Length measurements were taken, as well as a fin clip sample. Tissue samples can provide data about the shark’s diet by using a technique known as stable isotope analysis. After the work up was finished, we released the shark safely into the water.

RJD interns get ready to deploy a baited line

The day would prove to be very eventful. Our next shark was another a nurse, also a female. Male and female sharks can be differentiated by the pair of clasper organs the males have just behind the pelvic fins. We quickly tagged and collected data from the shark, and then released it off of the stern. Next, we caught a female bull shark. Bull sharks can be found in both shallow and deep water along the Florida coast, and have even been known to spend time in brackish and freshwater. We collected a blood sample from the shark which can be used to study the shark’s diet, health, and even determine if it is pregnant. Blood samples can be separated into the red portion containing red blood cells, and the clear portion known as plasma for further analysis.

The waves kept coming, and the sharks kept biting. It was not long before we had another bull shark on the line. Our fourth female shark of the day, we secured the bull shark for the research work up. Unlike nurse sharks, bull sharks do have a nictitating membrane. By shooting a quick jet of water into the shark’s eye, we can determine whether or not the nictitating membrane is firing. A protective translucent eyelid, the nictitating membrane is an involuntary reflex that guards the shark’s eye when it is feeding or biting unknown objects. If it fires, we know that the shark is in relatively good condition. After measuring the shark and collecting a fin clip, a dart tag was inserted at the base of the dorsal fin. This tag has a specific identification number and the lab’s phone number; if the shark is ever recaptured, we can gain valuable data on its movement patterns and growth.

A successful day of shark tagging

On a normal tagging trip, we usually set 30 lines in total (10 per set), but this day was so busy we only reset 5 lines for a total of 15. Weather conditions also made it a bit difficult to remain out on the water. The last 5 lines did not disappoint: our last shark of the day was a female Caribbean reef shark. Caribbean reef sharks are not a species we typically encounter on an average trip. This makes any data we collect from such individuals very valuable. Like the other sharks, the RJD team and Lauderdale Lakes students measured, tagged, and took blood and fin clip samples from the reef shark before releasing her back into the water. All in all, 5 sharks on 15 lines made for a very successful day of tagging. Hopefully we will be back to the West Palm area in the future for more important conservation research.

Shark tagging with Empowered Youth

May 14, 2015/1 Comment/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Alison Enchelmeier, RJD student

On Saturday morning I headed over to Crandon Marina. As I drove down the causeway, the weather promised a great day with not a cloud in the sky. Our guests for the day were a brand new group, Empowered Youth, and several family members of graduating interns. With our gear loaded onto the boat and everyone excited for tagging we headed out to the Belzona wreck.

On the trip out, Jake explained what we would be doing and how our guests would be helping us with our research. We set our lines east of the wreck. Initially, some of our guests were a bit shy, but with a little encouragement they were soon pulling lines alongside us.

A student pulls in a drumline to check for a shark

After letting the lines soak for an hour, we returned to pull lines. Early on in the day we caught our first shark. As line 3 was pulled up, something tugged on the line. With a shout of “Shark on!” the boat became a flurry of activity as the RJD team prepared to bring the shark to the boat. As the line was pulled in we predicted what we caught, the consensus being a nurse shark. We were pleasantly surprised when a 204 cm (~6.6 ft) sandbar shark came to the surface.

The students were prepared as they helped us work up the shark, bursting with excitement as they got to feel the sandpaper like skin of the shark and take measurements. Any fear of the shark disappeared as the shark remained calm during the whole procedure. Moments like these just highlight how important it is to give people first hand experience with sharks to help dispel the stigma against them. After the quick workup the shark was released, swimming down into the ocean until we could no longer see it. The first shark set the tone for the day as our guest’s infectious enthusiasm grew.

RJD intern Hanover draws blood from a shark’s caudal vein

More sharks were soon to follow as we caught four more sharks, all in the same set. Our second shark was a nurse, followed by a blacktip. At only 126 cm (~4.1ft) it was one of the smallest sharks I’d seen while working on the boat! After that we caught two more nurse sharks. One popped off the hook just before we managed to get it onto the platform while the last nurse was a whopping 258 cm (~8.4 feet)! We continued to pull and set 20 more lines but we didn’t catch any more sharks that day. Even so, our guests remained enthusiastic, asking questions and pulling up drumlines like pros. While we caught no more sharks on our drumlines we managed to see a sea turtle resting at the surface.

An unexpected treat, a sea turtle!

In all this was a great trip with a wonderful group. Thank you to Empowered Youth for being such a great group and good luck to our graduating interns!

Shark tagging with South Broward High School

April 23, 2015/1 Comment/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Daniela Escontrela, RJD Intern

I was out on the boat for another day of shark tagging. I was excited because I hadn’t been out much this semester and wanted to see what the day would bring. This was a particularly happy day for me because my mom would be going on the boat with me. After three years with the program she had only seen what I did once before so I had high hopes for the day.

Once we go to Crandon Marina we loaded gear onto the boat and did the usual pre trip checklist. Soon enough the participants, students from South Broward High School, arrived. South Broward high school has been coming out with us for a few years now and I definitely recognized a lot of repeat faces.

Before leaving the dock we introduced ourselves and talked about the day’s activities. Then we were underway to Soldier Key where we deployed ten drumlines. Emily had been at this site the previous day and caught some good things so I was very hopeful. During the hour wait we talked about the work up procedure with the students.

One of the participants from South Broward High School helps deploy a drumline

Once the hour passed we were picking up lines. The first six lines came up empty, and then on my favorite number, line seven, we got something big. The water was clear and we could see a massive shadow gliding over the bottom, swimming effortlessly despite our attempts to pull it near the boat. After a little effort we managed to bring it close and slide it onto our partially submerged platform. The massive creature was a bull shark, which we presumed may have been pregnant because of how wide she was. She came in at an incredible 271 cm (~8.9 feet). I was holding down her head and it was impressive to see how such a huge animal with such a bad reputation stayed there without fighting. We quickly worked up this shark and soon enough we sent her on her way, kicking strong.

A student helps with the nictitating membrane reflex test which helps assess stress levels

We kept picking up lines and our second set of ten lines came up empty. However we did manage to catch three more nurse sharks. One of them managed to pop off our hook before we could bring it on the platform and work it up. However, another one of the three was one of the smallest nurse sharks I had ever worked up.

A participant tags a small nurse shark captured that day

It was an incredible day of shark tagging and I felt lucky to have been able to be on the boat that day. Being on the boat reminds me of how lucky I am to be able to interact with a species that is so misunderstood yet so threatened. I will definitely be looking forward to my next shark tagging trip.

Shark Tagging with Trinity Prep

April 17, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Pat “Banana” Goebel, RJD student

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I was really excited to be going shark tagging. I couldn’t wait to go on a trip with Trinity Prep as their students are always engaged and willing to help. I snagged everything I needed for the day and headed down to Miami. Little did I know I would be returning from this trip with the nickname “banana.”

The team arrived at Diver’s Paradise at 8 am to load the fishing gear onto the boat. After a few sips of coffee, everyone was ready for an excellent day on the water. The students from Trinity Prep and a couple citizen scientists arrived around 9 am and couldn’t wait to get on the boat and go shark tagging with us. Captain Eric gave a safety briefing followed by David, who gave a detailed explanation of our fishing methods, which is designed to reduce fishing stress.

On the way out to our fishing spot, the team prepped the rest of our gear and cut fresh bait. Once we arrived at our fishing spot, the group came to the back of the boat to see how we deploy the lines. Then they helped us deploy the rest of the first set of ten lines.

A student from Trinity Prep helps us deploy our drumline

After an hour soak time, we headed back to our first drumline. The first set of ten lines had no sharks. On the second set we got a small nurse shark. The third set resulted in one blacktip and one nurse shark that got away.

Now, this is where the story gets interesting! Many fisherman and captains believe bananas are bad mojo on a fishing on boat. Why? Because fisherman and captains are very superstitious, however, I am not. There are many theories on why people believe bananas are bad luck but I won’t go into that. After 35 lines, someone noticed I had banana. Captain Eric and basically everyone else on the boat demanded that I get rid of it. But, it was a good banana and I didn’t want to toss it away. So, I was forced to eat the banana even though I wasn’t hungry!

A student from Trinity Prep takes fin clip

Before the consumption of the banana, we were having a normal day (3-4 sharks). After the banana was disposed of (but was it really if it was in my stomach), we went from an average to well beyond average day. We doubled our catch for the day in five lines. Yep! We went 3 for 5 once the banana was gone. The second line had a blacktip, the fourth line had a large nurse, and the final line of the day had a large bull shark.

I remember thinking to myself, “wow! Did that really just happen? I am never going to hear the end of this one.” So, as you can imagine all the blame was put on me. My name quickly changed from Pat to Banana. But, it didn’t stop there. After the trip, Captain Eric graciously bought me banana suit to wear on the next trip.

The trip on April 11^th will likely be a trip none of us will forget. The students from Trinity Prep were a great help and showed a passion for our research. We left them with a plethora of new knowledge about the importance of the ocean, which hopefully they will share with others. Sharing our knowledge about ocean conservation is truly a remarkable experience. Thanks to all who participated.

P.s. I bring a banana on every trip…

Shark Tagging with Cadillac Fairview

April 16, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

By Samantha Owen, RJD intern

RJD had another successful day on the water last Friday. Our enthusiastic guests from Cadillac Fairview met us at the Diver’s Paradise dock early in the morning. After a quick safety briefing from Captain Nick and an overview of our research methods and expectations for the day by Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, we set out from Crandon Marina for an exciting day of shark tagging.

Due to recent successes in the area, we decided to fish just off Key Biscayne near Bill Baggs State Park. With the help of Cadillac Fairview, we deployed our first 10 drum lines and took environmental measurements including temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.

After an hour soak time, we pulled in our first line with great anticipation. Shark on! We had an adult Atlantic sharpnose shark approximately 2.5ft in length. Our team did a quick work up and set the little guy free. It’s always a good day when we get a shark on our very first line! After 3 more lines we caught our first blacktip of the day. One of our newer projects involves tracking local blacktips and bull sharks using acoustic tags. Neil was able to successfully insert an acoustic tag into our blacktip shark and release it back into the water quickly and in great condition. With such success after only 4 lines, everyone was excited to see what the rest of the day would bring.

Our first blacktip shark of the day!

Our guests from Cadillac Fairview were able to help us tag, measure, and sample 3 more blacktips, 3 nurse sharks, and a Great hammerhead! Hammerhead populations are declining dramatically due to overfishing, and it is very rare to have the opportunity to see one. We were able to successfully deploy a satellite tag on the hammerhead, which should transmit its location every time the tag breaks the surface of the water.

Emily taking a blood sample from one of our nurse sharks

By the end of the day we tagged a total of 9 sharks of 4 different species! No matter how many tagging trips I go on or how many sharks I see, I never fail to get excited when there’s tension on the line. I would like to thank Cadillac Fairview again for all of their help and support. Their excitement and eagerness to pitch in made the day that much more special.

Up close and personal with the eye of a blacktip shark

Shark Tagging with Deering Estate

April 14, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

by Jessie Wingar, RJD student

When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I was incredibly excited to be going shark tagging. I couldn’t wait to go on a trip with a new school group from Deering Estate. I grabbed everything I needed for the day and drove to Diver’s Paradise at Crandon Marina. Little did I know this was about to be one of my most memorable days shark tagging yet.

The RJ Dunlap team arrived at Diver’s Paradise around 8am to load the rest of the gear onto the boat. We were all ready for a great day of tagging with a great group. The group from Deering Estate arrived around 9am and couldn’t wait to get on the boat and go shark tagging with us. Captain Nick gave a safety briefing followed by Steve and Robbie, who gave an explanation of our fishing methods.

We were all filled with anticipation going out the site, which was two to three hundred feet off of Bill Baggs. The group came to the back of the boat to see how we deploy the lines. Then they helped us deploy the rest of the first set of ten lines. Everyone was very enthusiastic, helpful, and cheered for one another. The first ten lines went out smoothly. We then let the lines soak for an hour and took environmentals.

The Great Hammerhead. You can see how big the dorsal fin is!

The first set of ten lines had no sharks. On the second set we got a very large female nurse shark. Everyone had a chance to interact with the shark and were all so thrilled to be this close to a shark. Then we got the best surprise of all. We could feel that there was a big shark on the line the moment we picked up the line. On the end of the line was a 15ft Great Hammerhead. I had not had the opportunity to see a hammerhead, since my interview trip almost two years ago. I could not contain my happiness. After securing the shark off of the back platform, it was fitted with a brand new satellite tag. The shark was released in top condition.

A full shot of the big Great Hammerhead

However, the day was not done yet. We caught another Great Hammerhead. Although this one was a lot smaller, so we decided not to satellite tag the animal. Everyone on the boat was so happy and I hope that the group enjoyed themselves as much as we did. They were a great group and we were so glad we could show them what we love to do. I am constantly in awe of these animals and I am so lucky to have this opportunity to help in the conservation of so many species of sharks!

Shark Tagging with Big Brothers Big Sisters

April 13, 2015/0 Comments/in Shark Research /by aanstett

By Beau Marsh, RJD Intern

The day of March 28 proved another successful shark tagging trip. RJD had the pleasure of spending the day on the water with the Big Brothers Big Sisters group. The crew was especially excited because past trips with BBBS had all been a treat, and, of course, today was no different. At the Diver’s Paradise dock, we were met with a very friendly and excited group of people. Although, it was surprisingly chilly (by Miami’s standards), we were all aching to get out on the water, jackets and all. We departed from Diver’s Paradise and did not have to travel far. The team decided to stay inside the bay, in clear view of Bill Baggs State Park.

Once we arrived at our first location, we began deploying our first set of 10 drum lines. Everything went smoothly as we had the assistance of our trusty friends from BBBS. As an added treat, the sun decided to reveal itself, and it became another warm day in beautiful Miami. The only thing left was to see some sharks. Everyone on the boat went through the usual ritual of predicting what kind of sharks we would see and how many. Once the time came to retrieve our lines, we were immediately met with a pleasant surprise. We had a large nurse shark on our very first line. This was a promising start to a very successful day. Unfortunately, our first nurse managed to sneak off the line right before pulling it on the boat. It may have gotten away, but it gave us hope for the rest of the day. Sure enough, our tricky nurse proved a good omen because we went on to catch a total of six additional nurse sharks that day. We also managed to catch three beautiful black tip reef sharks, giving us a grand total of 10 shark sightings in one day! Each of the nine caught sharks was successfully worked up and released very quickly and in good health. There is no feeling like collecting data from nine sharks and watching each one swim safely back into the water. This success could not have been accomplished without the help and efficiency off our BBBS guests. They were organized and ready to go at all times.

The day could not have gone much better, especially considering one unexpected surprise. One of the nurse sharks we caught already had a tag in it! This was not an RJD tag, so we caught a shark that had been tagged before by a different team. We were very happy to see this because it presented us with an opportunity to reach out to another research team and collaborate our data. It is a rare opportunity to be able to obtain such information from a single shark at two different times. It is always a treat when we get to see the hard work of tagging pay off.

Of course, we would like to take one final opportunity to thank the Big Brothers Big Sisters group. Everyone on RJD was impressed with the enthusiasm and eagerness of the group to get involved. We could not have asked for a more friendly and engaging group to help us carry out our research. We hope you had as much fun as we did, and hopefully we helped to spark an even greater appreciation for sharks.