Ocearch Tags and Tweets Great White Shark Locations
Tagging Great White Sharks
In 15 minutes, Ocearch scientists tag and take samples from great white sharks before releasing them back into the ocean.
Courtesy Robert Snow/Ocearch
The elusive great white has long tantalized scientists and shark enthusiasts around the world with 5,000 pounds of toothy, pelagic mystery.
But now, in 140 characters or less, shark enthusiasts can dive into a deeper understanding of these apex predators thanks to the nonproft Ocearch.
Collaboration between scientists, fishermen, media specialists and philanthropists has allowed Ocearch to develop a Global Shark Tracker that produces near-real-time, open-sourced satellite monitoring on the movements of tagged sharks. Every time a tagged shark’s fin surfaces, GPS information is updated on Ocearch’s interactive map. The information is registered as a “ping,” and is also shared via Twitter, Facebook, and other social-media sites.
Some of the apex predators even have their own Twitter handles and have garnered a substantial following — @Shark_Katharine, who has been frequently pinging along the Florida coast, had more than 15,000 followers as we went to press.
In addition to tracking movement, Ocearch scientists gather a number of blood and tissue samples, ultrasounds, and measurements of each tagged shark before it is released. These data are collected within 15 minutes, before the sharks are returned to the sea.
Chris Fischer, founding chairman of Ocearch expeditions, emphasized the importance of sharing this data with the public in an effort to “replace fear of the unknown with facts.”
For the Shark Enthusiasts:
Amazing Bite-Resistant Suit | Shark Net App | Video: Great White Shark Attacks SharkCam
Courtesy Robert Snow/OcearchIn 15 minutes, Ocearch scientists tag and take samples from great white sharks before releasing them back into the ocean.
The elusive great white has long tantalized scientists and shark enthusiasts around the world with 5,000 pounds of toothy, pelagic mystery.
But now, in 140 characters or less, shark enthusiasts can dive into a deeper understanding of these apex predators thanks to the nonproft Ocearch.
Collaboration between scientists, fishermen, media specialists and philanthropists has allowed Ocearch to develop a Global Shark Tracker that produces near-real-time, open-sourced satellite monitoring on the movements of tagged sharks. Every time a tagged shark’s fin surfaces, GPS information is updated on Ocearch’s interactive map. The information is registered as a “ping,” and is also shared via Twitter, Facebook, and other social-media sites.
Some of the apex predators even have their own Twitter handles and have garnered a substantial following — @Shark_Katharine, who has been frequently pinging along the Florida coast, had more than 15,000 followers as we went to press.
In addition to tracking movement, Ocearch scientists gather a number of blood and tissue samples, ultrasounds, and measurements of each tagged shark before it is released. These data are collected within 15 minutes, before the sharks are returned to the sea.
Chris Fischer, founding chairman of Ocearch expeditions, emphasized the importance of sharing this data with the public in an effort to “replace fear of the unknown with facts.”
For the Shark Enthusiasts:
Amazing Bite-Resistant Suit | Shark Net App | Video: Great White Shark Attacks SharkCam
