Press

Our Work is Making Headlines

04.2021 / Cook Islands News

Shark caught and released

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03.2021 / Cook Islands News

Fatal trap for eagle rays

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01.2021 / National Geographic

Oceanic shark and ray populations have collapsed by 70 percent over 50 years

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08.2020 / Untapped New York

All-Female Statue Exhibit #IfThenSheCan Pops Up in Central Park Zoo.

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07.2020 / Nature

Global Status and Conservation Potential of Reef Sharks

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See What We’re Up To in the Big Blue

What’s happening when we aren’t in the water?

What’s happening when we aren’t in the water?

To understand this, we use a variety of technology, including electronic tracking, cameras and baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS).

BRUVS are a great way to see which sharks and rays are present without having people in the water. They also give us valuable information about things like coral cover, bottom contours, water clarity and which non-shark species exist in the area and how they interact with one another.

Here, our team deploys BRUVS so we can learn more about the species on Penrhyn Island.

Photo: @erinfeinblatt

#shark #sharks #ocean #conservation #MarineConservation #BRUV #BRUVS

Have you ever wondered where our tagged sharks go?

Have you ever wondered where our tagged sharks go? So do we!

In this series we share the journeys of individual sharks as evaluated by our Research Director, Dr. Vinay Udyawer.

The graphic above shows the movement of a male Silky Shark that was tagged in Niue in November 2022 as part of Shark Pacific’s ongoing work there. We’re working with locals to help fishers and sharks coexist in Niuean waters. This shark, named “Mr. Grumpy,” was tagged and released at the Halagigie FAD (recall that FAD stands for: Fish Aggregating Device) by Launoa Gataua, the Head of Niue Fisheries, our trusted partners on this work.

Why do you think Launoa called him Mr Grumpy?

Why do scientists tag sharks? “We tag and track

Why do scientists tag sharks?

“We tag and track sharks to learn more about their movement patterns. Tracking studies can tell us a lot about how different species of sharks migrate, behave, and interact with their environment. This information helps us understand their ecological roles, and assess their vulnerability to environmental and human pressures. Tracking data can help us also devise conservation strategies, including designing protected areas and developing sustainable fishing practices, ensuring that shark populations remain healthy and continue fulfilling their essential role in maintaining a healthy ocean ecosystem.”
— Dr. Vinay Udyawer. Research Director, Sharks Pacific

To learn more about our tagging methods, visit: sharkspacific.org/field-notes

14th April 2018 . After 6 Days of sailing through

14th April 2018
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After 6 Days of sailing through rough seas and sleepless nights, the relief of seeing nothing but coconut trees over a horizon was sensational. The ship had finally arrived to Tongareva. We had one month scheduled on the northernmost atoll of the Cook Islands and the team was eager to get to work. But first things first, the equipment would need to be offloaded from the ship before diving in.

Images: @erinfeinblatt

Throwback! We will be reaching into our archives t

Throwback! We will be reaching into our archives to shine a little more light on who we are and what we do. Let us begin with our first ever expedition to Tongareva in 2018.
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If you’re still reading, welcome!
On an overcast and windy Sunday, the team met at Avatiu harbour on Rarotonga to load onto the ship and set sail to Tongareva. Tongareva is said to be the sharkiest island in the Cook Islands, and we were on our way to find out. 6 days of sailing through some spotty weather got everyone to the beautiful atoll, although not without challenge! While seasickness got most of the team, a little time and some pancakes was just what everyone needed to get back on top. And with that, the journey had just begun...
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Images: @erinfeinblatt