Shark Moves
 
High tech, in the form of satellite tracking, has allowed scientists follow the travels of the great white shark for well over a year. Attached to the dorsal fin (carefully) a transmitter sends position whenever the shark surfaces. Another device registers depth and water temperature and transmits this on request.
    Thirty-two sharks were followed for 15 months. At one time, these sharks were thought to be strictly a coastal species, staying near familiar grounds. They do return eventually to home waters but those released off the California coast wandered far and wide. One, taking nine months swam to the Indian Ocean and back. Others ranged to South Africa and to Madagascar.
    Another group tagged salmon sharks off the Alaskan coast. They regularly traveled as far south as Baja California and Hawaii. Like the whites, they eventually returned to home waters.
    These long treks pose conservation problems and point up the need for international cooperation in slowing down their currently unsustainable rate of fishing.
                                                - January 2006

01/02/06 14:42