Local interest shown in shark tagging ‘hobby’
Shark tagging is not easy, inexpensive or for those who want to put forth a half-hearted effort.
Ask Fort Myers Beach resident Jason Jackson. He has taken up the dangerous, volunteer “hobby” by hooking sharks and collecting data for the National Marine Fisheries Service Cooperative Shark Tagging Program within the jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. From there, the information educates researchers who study different habits (such as migrating), growth and survival methods of sharks in Gulf waters, the Atlantic Ocean and pretty much all shark habitat sites across the country.
According to the NOAA, the program is a collaborative effort between recreational anglers, the commercial fishing industry and program coordinators to study the life history of Atlantic sharks. The CSTP, initiated in 1962, has expanded in subsequent years to include thousands of volunteers -like Jackson- distributed along the Atlantic and Gulf coast of North America and Europe.
“It’s a very expensive sport,” said Jackson, who has $2,000 worth of shark fishing poles and more money tied up in tackle. “Every time you lose the line and tackle, you’re looking at $30 there for the leader and the hook.”
Jackson has been an avid fisherman all his life, but only began shark fishing three years ago. He is an advocate for sea life conservation and keeps a lengthy log book that he can use later in life. He warns the program is not for everyone, and not everyone gets approved when he or she sends in a letter to request a tagging kit.
“I thought if I was going to spent money on a hobby, I wanted to invest some time in this and have something to look back to and reflect on and do it for wildlife as well,” he said. “If you’re going to do it, you need to be all in and put some time and effort in it. You just can’t get the kit and leave the tags in the garage and they become unaccounted for.”
NOAA records show that between 1962 and 2013, more than 243,000 sharks of 52 species have been tagged and more than 14,000 sharks of 33 species have been recaptured. The rate of recapture ranges from 1 percent for the blacknose shark to 13 percent for the shortfin mako. Distances traveled for the 33 species ranged from no movement to 3,997 nautical miles (blue shark). The longest time at liberty for any shark in the CSTP is 27.8 years (sandbar shark).
Shark fishing alone is not all fun and games. Jackson said he has logged/tagged blacktips (most common), spinners, scalloped hammerhead, nurse, bonnethead, Atlantic sharpnose and a recent tiger shark, which NOAA referred to as one of the top three sharks implicated in unprovoked fatal attacks throughout the world.
“‘There was one point where his tail just missed my head when I was reaching over the boat,” Jackson said of the tiger shark. “You never underestimate these animals. They always run for another 100 yards and can turn around. You gotta keep your guard up.”
Following the tides is how Jackson plans his shark fishing times. He DNA tests tarpon as well.
“I like my three hours before high tide, so that you have a good five- or six-hour window when you go,” he said. “I go at all hours.”
Through website information, NOAA states the tagging methods have been essentially unchanged with two principal tags in use: a fin tag (Jumbo Rototag) and a dart tag (“M” tag). The rototag is a two piece, plastic cattle ear tag which is inserted through the first dorsal fin. These tags were primarily used by NMFS biologists on small sharks during the first few years of the CSTP.
As the program expanded to include thousands of volunteer fishermen, the dart tag was developed to be easily and safely applied to sharks in the water. Jackson uses the so-called “M” tag, which is composed of “a stainless steel dart head, monofilament line and a plexiglas capsule containing a vinyl plastic legend with return instructions printed in English, Spanish, French, Japanese and Norwegian.” These dart tags, in use since 1965, are implanted in the back musculature near the base of the first dorsal fin.
Numbered tags are sent to volunteer participants on self-addressed return post cards for recording tagging information, such as date, location, gear, size and sex of shark. Cards are mailed back.
“When you tag sharks, you also need to determine the species, fork length (length to crevice of back fin), the full length (length to end of tail), claudal fin length and weight,” Jackson said. He uses a provided graph for determination of weight.
When a previously tagged shark is recaptured, information similar to that obtained at tagging is requested. Tagged sharks will also deter fisherman from keeping them.
“They really want them to being accountable. If anyone comes across a tagged shark, let her live for research,” he said. “Or, if you keep the shark for dinner, at least report it with the tag number so that we can account for the tag.”
NOAA records show that during the process of determining age and growth, scientists removes a 6″ to 10″ piece of backbone from the shark just over the gills. The sample is kept frozen until processing.
Data such as species, sex, location caught, date caught, and a measurement over the body fork length are recorded when taking vertebrae.
Jackson has received feedback from those who witness him tagging sharks. He is always asked how he started, but more often is asked if he is paid to do it. He hopes one day that will happen.
“Maybe some day possibly the Guy Harvey (Research) Institute will look for someone in the area to do the GPS tags,” he said. “That’s why I keep my log book. I would quit my job and get paid to tag sharks.”
Visit www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/Nar-ragansett/sharks/tagging.html to learn more about shark tagging and the program.
-Information provided by NOAA Fisheries Service