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We lack biological data for practically all shark species, especially on their precise geographical distribution areas, their migration behavior or reliable population numbers. This also applies to widely distributed species living in coastal areas, e.g. the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas).
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© Klaus Jost / Shark Foundation
Illustration: Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas).
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© Klaus Jost / Shark Foundation
Illustration: Preparing the highly complex transmitter.
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In areas where bull sharks can be seen regularly, observations over past years have shown that grown individuals leave these areas in the spring for two to four months and return in the summer. Where they migrate to during this time is not yet known, but presumably they visit their reproduction regions/nurseries during this time period.
Early in 2003 an international research team launched a bull shark tagging program in the Bahamian waters. The purpose of this program is to find the bull shark nurseries and their migration routes, and in a second step to establish concepts for the protection of these areas.
The experiences and results of the Bahama pilot project led to the initiation of a study on the migratory behavior of bull sharks near Fiji in 2004. Various bull sharks were tagged with satellite transmitters for this research program. At a fixed time, the transmitters come off the sharks and transmit data on the migratory routes, depth, temperatures etc. to satellites. The data is then evaluated using computer programs designed specifically for the project.
In a first phase three bull sharks were equipped with satellite transmitters programmed to release themselves from the sharks at the end of 2004 and then float to the water surface. In the course of 2004 additional bull sharks were tagged with such transmitters. At the end of 2004 the first data arrived and is ready for evaluation in 2005.
Project Manager: Jürg Brunnschweiler
Ihe Foundation partially financed the project with CHF 19,000.
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During the annual meeting of the biggest international elasmobranch association, the American Elasmobranch Society (AES), in New Orleans, Dr. Jürg Brunnschweiler organized a scientific worshop on "Tracking of Sharks". At the workshop, specialists discussed current and future technologies to track shark movements. The Shark Foundation and the US Shark Foundation co-sponsored the workshop. Gary Adkison, secretary of the US Shark Foundation, and Jürg Brunnschweiler gave talks on the topic.
Funding: 3'700 CHF
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Bonnethead-hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo) prefer to live in coastal areas where they are also fished. In order to protect this shark species it is very important to know if losses in one area can be compensated by the immigration of animals from another, less intensively fished area.
A masters thesis by Markus Ruch in the Zoological Museum of Zurich University deals with this theme.
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© SeaPics / Shark Foundation
A bonnethead-hammerhead shark (Sphyrna tiburo).
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Using molecular-biological parentage analysis of various bonnethead-hammerhead populations in the Gulf of Mexico it could be determined that certain populations in this area trade individuals to different degrees. The less trading of individuals, the more sensitive do these groups react to overfishing.
The Foundation was entrusted with scientific supervision (Manager Dr. Gaston D. Guex). It also procured the tissue samples from various regions and partially financed the project (currently totalling about CHF 5,000).
The masters thesis was submitted in January 2001 and accepted.
Publication:  Masters thesis on Bonnethead-hammerhead sharks
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© Shark Foundation
Genetic exchange with bonnethead-hammerhead sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Black arrows: thin = minimum exchange, thick = high exchange |
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Together with the German ocean protection organization Deepwave the Foundation gave financial support in 2006 for an educational campaign aimed at small fisheries in Tamil Nadu, India. Using panels and other information material, the campaign informed fishermen about overfishing in the region. The campaign pointed out the already strongly decimated shark populations and the harmful effects this has, not only on the fish but also on the fishermen who are robbed of medium-term income.
Investments approx. 1,600 CHF
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The Foundation supported a project initiated by Dr. E. Ritter up until the third quarter of 2001 with a total of CHF 94,000. Up until this time no concrete results in the two projects on shark conditioning and shark migrations could be presented, despite various requests. Except for a publication which did not directly relate to the projects, no additional scientific work was published in this area.
The Board of Trustees thus decided to stop supporting the two projects due to lack of results. Ritter was asked to return the underwater camera and the Foundation's VEMCO tracking material so that they could be used in other projects.
Total investments: approx. CHF 94,000
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Inventory of the fauna in the Marine National Park in Walker's Cay by Dr. E. Ritter, with special consideration to sharks.
The project was ended by the Board of Trustees due to lack of results.
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The bereaved family of a diver who lost his life in a tragic diving accident was asked to invest the money collected at the funeral for a whale shark protection project. Since the Foundation has no such project, the double amount was transferred to the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, N.J. (USA), for whale shark activities.
Total investment: For the present a single investment in 2002 of approx. CHF 3,700
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In the scope of cooperation with Mark Grace of NOAA/NMSF a research project for the identification of various deep-sea sharks in the Gulf of Mexico was supported.
Mrs. Claudia Bänsch delivered tissue samples for the Foundation's shark tissue collection, a research report as well as photographic material from her stay between October and November 2002.
Single investment 2002: approx. CHF 2’500
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In January 1999 the Shark Foundation held discussions with the responsible people in South Africa and decided – in cooperation with the Department for Ocean Fishing, the University of Stellenbosch and the South African Museum – to submit two projects for the protection of white sharks in South Africa. Both projects were accepted on March 3, 1999, with work beginning in the summer of 1999. The projects were for the most part carried out by employees of the Shark Foundation and the University of Zurich.
Despite several inquiries with the South African authorities no serious project cooperation could be achieved with them. In addition we lost our direct contact to Stellenbosch through the tragic death of Dr. D. Seady (University Stellenbosch).
At the end of 2000 the Board of Trustees thus decided to end the project. The CHF 40,000 set aside for these projects will flow into other projects.
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