ACOUSTIC TAGGING AND GENETIC SAMPLING OF 20 TIGER SHARKS IN THE TUAMOTUS

Our team carried out a major field mission in the lagoon, where we deployed a new acoustic receiver array to monitor tiger shark movements at fine spatial and temporal scales. During this effort, we surgically implanted long-term acoustic tags in 20 tiger sharks, allowing us to track their residency, habitat use, and connectivity throughout the system. Each shark was also measured, photographed, and genetically sampled, creating a comprehensive dataset that links movement patterns with size, age class, and potential kinship. This integrated approach is now providing the most detailed understanding to date of tiger shark ecology within the lagoon.

GLOBAL MISSION: BULL SHARK SAMPLING IN FLORIDA

Our team traveled to Florida to conduct a targeted field mission on the local bull shark population, collecting bite-force measurements, behavioral reactivity assessments, and hormone samples. These data are being directly compared with existing datasets from Australian bull sharks to evaluate geographic differences in physiology, behavior, and stress responses. This comparative approach helps reveal how environmental conditions shape shark biology across regions.

GLOBAL MISSION: TAGGING AND GENETIC SAMPLING OF WHITE SHARKS IN STEWART ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

This mission took us to the rugged coastlines of New Zealand to investigate the powerful white sharks that patrol these waters. Our mission focused on tracking their movements, uncovering the ecological forces that draw them to key hotspots, and understanding how their behavior intersects with local marine activity. Through tagging operations, genetic sampling, photo identification, drone surveys, and collaborative fieldwork with New Zealand scientists, we worked to reveal the true nature and energy of one of the ocean’s most iconic predators.

HUMAN-SHARK MITIGATION IN NUKU HIVA, MARQUESAS

Our team traveled to Nuku Hiva to assess the shark population that gathers at the fish-cleaning dock, a site where several shark bites have occurred. During the visit, we met with local stakeholders to discuss the situation, understand community concerns, and explore preventative safety solutions. We also gave educational presentations to school children on shark biology, ecology, and safe behavior around sharks to support long-term awareness and conservation.