Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge - Basking Shark: Local research

Local Researchers Need Your Help:

In 2013 local researchers are hoping to tag two more basking sharks. Please report all sighting of basking sharks to NOAA and the Southwest Fisheries Science Center attention: Owyn

Please Program this number into your phone and call me immediately if you see one of these fish while ON THE WATER!

(8 5 8) 3 4 2-6 3 7 2

All sightings or stories of basking sharks seen off southern California are helpful. Basking sharks are the second largest fish on the planet, but suprisingly very litttle is known about them. With your help we learn more about them!

The research below was conducted with help from local sport fishermen:

NOAA Fisheries service fisheries biologist John Hyde and Owyn Snodgrass tag three basking sharks over the past 4 years!

The third tag was deployed near Point Loma in June of 2011 and after 8 months the tag popped off the shark near the Hawaiian Island chain. See links below for more information, pictures, and video.

The satellite tags are programmed to record light levels, water temperature, and depths. The light levels can be used to recreate a bread crumb trail that will show where the shark traveled during the past 8 months. The temperature and depth data can be used to make observations about the behavior of the animal.

The tag results will help us learn more about a shark that has rarely been seen in recent years. Few people are aware of the fact that baskign sharks used to be sighted commonly off the coast of San Diego. If you have any questions or would like to become involved please contact Owyn Snodgrass at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla California.

How to report sightings:

1) Call me: (858)342-6372

2) Email me: owyn.snodgrass@noaa.gov

thanks again!

Owyn

For more information please see links below:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/...first-science/

http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx...rentmenuid=448

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/201...sightings.html

http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx...n=FRD&id=16327

http://swfsc.noaa.gov/baskingshark/

https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-...w=1280&bih=630