humans may fear sharks but it seems sharks have more to fear from humans
sharks have more to fear from humans
sharks have more to fear from humans a recent study suggests that overfishing
a recent study suggests that overfishing
a recent study suggests that overfishing has slashed the population of sharks
has slashed the population of sharks
has slashed the population of sharks just in the past decade for many species
just in the past decade for many species
just in the past decade for many species the numbers have dropped by more than 50
the numbers have dropped by more than 50
the numbers have dropped by more than 50 percent despite concerns people continue
percent despite concerns people continue
percent despite concerns people continue reeling in these top predators for food
reeling in these top predators for food
reeling in these top predators for food and sport in South Portland Maine the
and sport in South Portland Maine the
and sport in South Portland Maine the shark hunting tournament draws quite a
shark hunting tournament draws quite a
shark hunting tournament draws quite a crowd but these sport fishermen are not
crowd but these sport fishermen are not
crowd but these sport fishermen are not just here for a trophy catch
they’re fishing to promote research
they’re fishing to promote research mainly degree
mainly degree
mainly degree they receive a copy of the rules and a
they receive a copy of the rules and a
they receive a copy of the rules and a camera to record the Sharks they catch
camera to record the Sharks they catch
camera to record the Sharks they catch tag for research and then release the
tag for research and then release the
tag for research and then release the so-called catch and release tournaments
so-called catch and release tournaments
so-called catch and release tournaments are popular along the Atlantic seaboard
they’ll tag it release and you can track
they’ll tag it release and you can track the fish from miles away Spain de Puerto
the fish from miles away Spain de Puerto
the fish from miles away Spain de Puerto Rico along the east coast it’s really
Rico along the east coast it’s really
Rico along the east coast it’s really the only way you can study a fish now in
the only way you can study a fish now in
the only way you can study a fish now in the wild
even in summer mornings and Maine can be
even in summer mornings and Maine can be cool and Misty
the team’s head off in search of sharks
the team’s head off in search of sharks that enter these waters on their summer
that enter these waters on their summer
that enter these waters on their summer migration
on board the karenann the fishermen are
on board the karenann the fishermen are joined by researchers who will study the
joined by researchers who will study the
joined by researchers who will study the catch of the day
catch of the day
catch of the day snaring a shark takes skill and strength
sharks caught here can weigh many
sharks caught here can weigh many hundreds of pounds but this one is
hundreds of pounds but this one is
hundreds of pounds but this one is smaller
some species of shark grow only a few
some species of shark grow only a few inches annually and take 20 years to
inches annually and take 20 years to
inches annually and take 20 years to become sexually mature their gestation
become sexually mature their gestation
become sexually mature their gestation period lasts along nine months to two
period lasts along nine months to two
period lasts along nine months to two years slow to grow and reproduce sharks
years slow to grow and reproduce sharks
years slow to grow and reproduce sharks can easily be wiped out by overfishing
can easily be wiped out by overfishing
can easily be wiped out by overfishing after gathering data
after gathering data
after gathering data the catch is released not everyone
the catch is released not everyone
the catch is released not everyone condones this merging of science and
condones this merging of science and
condones this merging of science and sport fishing but biologists say it
sport fishing but biologists say it
sport fishing but biologists say it provides them a rare opportunity to
provides them a rare opportunity to
provides them a rare opportunity to study these vulnerable predators the
study these vulnerable predators the
study these vulnerable predators the biggest benefit for us is literally to
biggest benefit for us is literally to
biggest benefit for us is literally to get more data we see more fish and we
get more data we see more fish and we
get more data we see more fish and we talk with more anglers and we’ll get to
talk with more anglers and we’ll get to
talk with more anglers and we’ll get to see more animals over the course of the
see more animals over the course of the
see more animals over the course of the summer
national Geographics Tyler Abernathy is
national Geographics Tyler Abernathy is also on board the project his goal is to
also on board the project his goal is to
also on board the project his goal is to attach a critter cam to some of the
attach a critter cam to some of the
attach a critter cam to some of the larger sharks
this fish is hefty and potentially
this fish is hefty and potentially dangerous the fishermen and researchers
dangerous the fishermen and researchers
dangerous the fishermen and researchers must move quickly but carefully to
must move quickly but carefully to
must move quickly but carefully to secure the fish and gather data Cuyler
secure the fish and gather data Cuyler
secure the fish and gather data Cuyler snaps the camera on the dorsal fin it
snaps the camera on the dorsal fin it
snaps the camera on the dorsal fin it will record what the shark sees before
will record what the shark sees before
will record what the shark sees before releasing and floating to the surface
releasing and floating to the surface
releasing and floating to the surface giving researchers unique insight into
giving researchers unique insight into
giving researchers unique insight into life underwater finally it’s time to
life underwater finally it’s time to
life underwater finally it’s time to release the shark back into the deep
but not all sharks in the tournament
but not all sharks in the tournament returned to the scene larger mature
returned to the scene larger mature
returned to the scene larger mature sharks are brought in to be weighed
it’s 4 o 2.5 these big guys will be
it’s 4 o 2.5 these big guys will be delivered to biologists Leeson a TENS
delivered to biologists Leeson a TENS
delivered to biologists Leeson a TENS who studies that remains
we could definitely do our research
we could definitely do our research without the tournaments the tournaments
without the tournaments the tournaments
without the tournaments the tournaments make it a lot easier the future brought
make it a lot easier the future brought
make it a lot easier the future brought in and they let us come sample which is
in and they let us come sample which is
in and they let us come sample which is great we could get them in other ways if
great we could get them in other ways if
great we could get them in other ways if we had to but this just makes it easier
we had to but this just makes it easier
we had to but this just makes it easier for us by studying the contents of their
for us by studying the contents of their
for us by studying the contents of their stomachs their guts and reproductive
stomachs their guts and reproductive
stomachs their guts and reproductive systems
systems
systems scientists hope to learn more about the
scientists hope to learn more about the
scientists hope to learn more about the impact of pollution and habitat change
impact of pollution and habitat change
impact of pollution and habitat change on shark populations
the fishermen say that for the most part
the fishermen say that for the most part they’re here for fun they enjoy the
they’re here for fun they enjoy the
they’re here for fun they enjoy the challenge of catching an apex predator
challenge of catching an apex predator
challenge of catching an apex predator but many seem pleased that they are in
but many seem pleased that they are in
but many seem pleased that they are in some ways hoping the researchers
some ways hoping the researchers
some ways hoping the researchers dedicated to protecting sharks I think
dedicated to protecting sharks I think
dedicated to protecting sharks I think this is a very good tournament I agree
this is a very good tournament I agree
this is a very good tournament I agree with the the practices going on at this
with the the practices going on at this
with the the practices going on at this tournament they are trying to limit the
tournament they are trying to limit the
tournament they are trying to limit the amount of smaller sharks brought in
amount of smaller sharks brought in
amount of smaller sharks brought in there’s a lot of guys you’re getting
there’s a lot of guys you’re getting
there’s a lot of guys you’re getting points for tagging and releasing small
points for tagging and releasing small
points for tagging and releasing small sharks which again is going to help with
sharks which again is going to help with
sharks which again is going to help with the research in many ways the
the research in many ways the
the research in many ways the cooperation between sportsmen and
cooperation between sportsmen and
cooperation between sportsmen and conservationists seems natural both have
conservationists seems natural both have
conservationists seems natural both have an interest in keeping a viable
an interest in keeping a viable
an interest in keeping a viable population of sharks in these coastal
population of sharks in these coastal
population of sharks in these coastal waters fishermen scientists say will
waters fishermen scientists say will
waters fishermen scientists say will hold tournaments and reel in sharks with
hold tournaments and reel in sharks with
hold tournaments and reel in sharks with or without them by joining forces
or without them by joining forces
or without them by joining forces researchers get valuable specimens to
researchers get valuable specimens to
researchers get valuable specimens to study and many sharks give a chance to
study and many sharks give a chance to
study and many sharks give a chance to live another day this time the fish that
live another day this time the fish that
live another day this time the fish that got away is not a loss but a cause for
got away is not a loss but a cause for
got away is not a loss but a cause for celebration
check for wild products on your local
check for wild products on your local PBS station
PBS station
PBS station sponsored by National Geographic mission
sponsored by National Geographic mission
sponsored by National Geographic mission programs taking science and exploration
programs taking science and exploration
programs taking science and exploration into the new millennium
”
Be First to Comment