The Megalodon Plush

“In order to conserve and manage sharks, researchers use tags to track them in their natural habitat and study their movement patterns and behavior. This tagging allows researchers to better understand the species’ life history, social behavior, reproduction and much more, including how often the animals may interact with fisheries. These fields are all very important for advancing the conservation and management of sharks. For example, Saving the Blue recently tagged a great hammerhead in Andros. Within the Bahamas, this shark was protected as part of the national Shark Sanctuary. When the shark left the Bahamas and swam to the United States, however, it was subject to fishing pressure as regulations permit limited harvest in federal waters. By revealing where sharks move and the routes they travel, scientists can understand how best to influence management and ultimately, protect them. This protection is only possible with the use of tags, which reveal the secrets of these fascinating creatures!” - Saving the Blue

To learn more about why sharks are tracked, visit our partner directly at savingtheblue.org.

We use a combination of satellite and acoustic electronic devices. Satellite tags (SPOT or PSAT) are typically used to monitor migration patterns both horizontally and vertically as they can provide locations of the sharks during tracks and depth / temperature information at 5-minute intervals throughout their deployment. Acoustic tracking tags are usually deployed to examine habitat use at finer scales, determining the role of various biological factors (e.g. biotic / abiotic) on how sharks use particular areas.” - Saving the Blue

To learn more about how sharks are tracked, visit our partner directly at savingtheblue.org.

“Our team is very careful with how we handle and place tags on sharks. Most satellite devices are placed next to or through the dorsal fin. There are no nerve endings in the fins and although we are unable to ask a shark if it feels us making a hole to place a tag, they do not react. The tags are temporary with materials that break down over time, so eventually there are no tag remnants on the shark. Acoustic tags are typically implanted in the body cavity and can last up to 10-years, many recent studies that our scientific team have been involved with have tracked some individuals up to 6-years with tags implanted showing no adverse effects.” - Saving the Blue

To learn more, visit our partner directly at savingtheblue.org.

Great, scalloped, and smooth hammerheads are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. Their greatest threat is bycatch by global fisheries—in other words, they are accidentally caught during commercial fishing meant for other species. Since these apex predators serve a vital role in keeping ocean ecosystems stable and healthy, their conservation and restoration is incredibly important! For similar reasons, silky sharks and great whites are listed as vulnerable, and mako sharks are listed as endangered.

Because there are many species of sharks, they range in size from those small enough to fit in your hand to those larger than a school bus. The biggest shark in the ocean today is the whale shark, which can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) long. The biggest shark EVER was the Megalodon, which may have grown over 110 feet long (24 meters)—several meters long than the largest whale sharks!

Despite their intimidating appearance and reputation, sharks can actually be relatively friendly towards humans. There are hundreds of different shark species, so this can vary. However, most shark species are either quite shy or do not mind close human contact and interaction. 

Sharks’ biggest fear is the bottlenose dolphin. Though dolphins are known to be friendly and gentle creatures, they can be skilled fighters when in conflict with sharks. Sharks fear them because they know that dolphins can use their pointed snouts to injure the sharks’ sensitive underbellies.

Wipe with damp sponge or cloth, using warm water and mild soap. Once dry, brush to restore the plush and proceed with snuggling.