With over 400,000 tourists visiting Bermuda every season, we can add one more with the visit of a young, female mako shark that will cruise by the island on its incredible, episodic journey. Caught, satellite tagged and released 5.5 months ago off Ocean City, Maryland, GHOF1 (an abbreviation for Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation) has been tracked by the Nova Southeastern University’s Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) as she has covered some 4,400 miles. (See map of her journey).
GHOF1 is among 16 mako sharks tagged with special satellite-linked devices allowing GHRI researchers to monitor their movements. The public can also follow these shark movements courtesy of an interactive online website set-up by GHRI: www.nova.edu/ocean/ghri/tracking/.
The website is an educational outreach component of the institute’s quest to study shark migration patterns, with the ultimate goal being to better understand and protect them, as some species are threatened or endangered.
NSU’s Guy Harvey Research Institute began tagging mako sharks in 2009 to study their migratory patterns and now undertakes expeditions worldwide to study them. The school’s marine experts have tagged mako sharks as far away as Mexico and New Zealand. In addition to makos they have also tracked tiger, oceanic white tip and sand tiger sharks, as well as blue marlin.
“GHOF1, like all of mako sharks we’ve tracked, are truly international sharks, visiting the waters of several countries as they explore the oceans while covering enormous distances,” said Mahmood Shivji, director of the institute’s Save Our Seas Shark Research Center at NSU. “What we are also learning is that these sharks do not roam randomly, but exhibit a finely tuned sense of place. Longer term tracking will tell us if they are also exhibiting a sense of time as well as place.”
Given the high fishing pressure on makos for their meat and fins, this species is showing declining population trends in parts of its range, which has resulted in the species being listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
About the Guy Harvey Research Institute at NSU:
Established in 1999, the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at NSU is collaboration between the renowned marine artist, scientist and explorer, Dr. Guy Harvey, and Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center. The mission of the GHRI is to provide the scientific information necessary to understand, conserve, and effectively manage the world’s marine fishes and their ecosystems. The GHRI is one of only a handful of private organizations dedicated exclusively to the science-based conservation of marine fish populations and biodiversity. The research, education and outreach activities of the GHRI are supported by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, AFTCO Inc., extramural research grants, philanthropic donations by private businesses and individuals, and NSU. http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ghri/index.html
About Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation:
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is a leader in international efforts to protect our oceans and marine environments. The GHOF advocates for sustainable fishing practices, funds inspired scientific research and supports innovative educational programs. Our principle objective is to help ensure that future generations will enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem where fish and other marine wildlife flourish. GHOF has led or assisted include the establishment of a shark sanctuary in Bahamian federal waters, the addition of five species of sharks to Florida’s protected list and the enactment of the U.S. Billfish Conservation Act. In the fall of 2012, the GHOF led a petition drive in support of the National Conservation Law in the Cayman Islands. The GHOF also assisted the launch of the first catch-and-release fishing tournament in Venezuela.