Brad Wetherbee – Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island
Anthony Wood – Graduate School of Oceanography , University of Rhode Island

Understanding long-term movements of pelagic sharks is important for proper management of their populations, but has been a difficult task to achieve in the past.  We are taking advantage of new technology and to date have tagged five mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) with “pop-up” satellite archival tags. These tags have computer controlled sensors programmed to sample and store depth, temperature and geographical location data every hour.  The tags are programmed to detach from the shark after a predetermined length of time and “pop-up” to the surface.  The tags float at the surface and transmit stored information to theArgos data collection system aboard orbiting NOAA weather satellites.

The information is then provided to the research team for analysis. This technology gives intimate details of the life of the tagged shark while it goes about its every day business, undisturbed within its natural environment. Two sharks were tagged offMartha’s Vineyard and had moved south when the transmitters popped up and began transmitting data.  Another shark tagged off Block Island had moved south of Martha’s Vineyard at the time the transmitter popped up.  A fourth shark tagged offMartha’s Vineyard had moved at least 500 miles to the east at the time the transmitter popped up a month later (see map to the right).  These data represent the first long-term and detailed record of the movements of mako sharks in the Atlantic . More transmitters will be deployed on mako sharks during the future.  For further details or for information on participating in this project contact Dr. Wetherbee at wetherbee@uri.edu.