sharpnose shark – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: It’s about the People (and the Sharks!), August 15, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 15, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge (on our Boston Whaler)

Latitude: 41° 42.48’ N

Longitude: 070° 38.34’ W

Wind speed: 0-1 kts

Wave height: 1-2 ft

Air temp.: 26.7° C

Sky: Clouds

Science and Technology Log

The end of the trip wrapped up rather quickly, requiring us to steam for a while between stations and from the last station to the port of Miami Beach, FL, by noon on August 10. During this leg we were able to sample 45 stations between Miami and Cape Hatteras, NC.

Cheryl, wearing a Teacher at Sea hat, life vest, and work gloves, holds up a sharpnose shark for a photo on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. behind her we see cloudy gray sky and blue-gray water. — NOAA Teacher at Sea Cheryl Milliken holding an Atlantic sharpnose shark that she tagged with an external button tag prior to releasing over the side.

While on my trip, I wanted to highlight some of the many careers on the ship. I interviewed someone from NOAA Corps, a scientist, a survey technician, two fishermen, and an engineer to get a range of job prospects on this ship. Today I have two people who have great influence on the culture of the ship: the chief steward and the commanding officer. Each of these people took a different path to get to Oregon II, and each person had a common goal: to support and conduct solid science.

Interview with Celeste Morris

two women smile big for a photo in the galley (kitchen) — *Miss Celeste Morris, Chief Steward, and Kierra Bradley, Second Cook, in the galley. These two women were so personable and thoughtful, adding to the culture of family on NOAA Ship* Oregon II.

Anyone who has been on a vessel at least overnight knows the most important position to maintain positive morale on the ship is the chief steward (head chef!). Our trip was no exception, even though our chief steward was an augmenter. Miss Celeste Morris serves a unique role among NOAA’s vessels: she moves from one ship to another in order to take the place of (augment) the chief steward when they go on vacation. Celeste started out as a teacher in Savannah, Georgia. She volunteered on a cruise, and one of the scientists suggested she apply for a position. “Well, I can’t be an engineer, so I applied for 2^nd Cook.”

She has been on many vessels in the NOAA fleet. When not working, she likes to see her two grown daughters and her granddog. Thank you, Miss Celeste, for greeting us all with a smile and friendly conversation whenever we approached you in the galley. I loved trying all the new-to-me dishes that you made. Shoutout to Kierra Bradley, the 2^nd cook, who kept up with everyone’s dishes and made a to-die-for mac and cheese!

Interview with CO Adam Reed

a man in a NOAA Corps uniform sits across a table with his hands folded, smiling for the photo. a pair of binoculars is on the table in front of him — CO Adam Reed on the Bridge in Miami Beach, FL, on the last day of our trip.

close up view of a coffee mug with a sticker that says "NOAA Ship Fleet" and a manatee-shaped tea infuser hanging its flippers over the edge of the mug — CO Adam Reed on the Bridge in Miami Beach, FL, on the last day of our trip.

The last person on my interview list is the Commanding Officer (CO), CDR Adam Reed. CDR Reed has only a few more months on the ship; he will be transferring command to CDR Jesse Milton in January 2026. CDR Milton has had several very interesting appointments, including time on American Samoa and a 10-month stint as station science leader at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica! Jesse was on this leg getting a feel for the vessel, and he proved himself to be ready and knowledgeable when that time comes. In the meantime, CDR Reed will stay at the helm to support the Southeast Fisheries Science Center on NOAA Ship Oregon II.

five NOAA Corps officers in blue uniforms at work at different roles on the bridge of NOAA Ship Oregon II — *NOAA Corps Officers on the Bridge following docking in Miami Beach, FL. From L to R: Ensign Vincenzo LeDonne, CO Adam Reed, Cdr Tracy Miller, LT Luke Petzy, XO Pete Gleichauf, and CO Jesse Milton.*

This leg seemed to have an abundance of NOAA Corps officers, but that may be a typical situation. Along with CDR Adam Reed and Jesse Milton, CAPT Tracy Miller, director of training for OMAO (Office of Marine and Aviation Operations) Training, was present to command a shift. LT Luke Petzy was generally at the helm during my watch, and commissioned bridge officer ENS Vincenzo LeDonne was on with the night watch. LCDR Pete Gleichauf, the Executive Officer (XO) of the ship, had to read all my blogs to make sure there were no errors, and for his positive comments I am grateful. Many of these NOAA Corps officers, as well as the crew, had background training in science but ended up on this support path.

CDR Adam Reed has been in the NOAA Corps for nearly 18 years. He is originally from Colorado and graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Engineering Physics. This is his first time as CO on a NOAA vessel, but he has spent time as XO on three other ships: NOAA Ship Rainier (around Alaska), NOAA Ship Fairweather (Rainier’s sister ship in Alaska), and NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler (a coastal mapping vessel that works along the Great Lakes to the Gulf of America [formerly Gulf of Mexico]). NOAA Corps officers generally serve in a rotation of sea assignment lasting 2 years, followed by a 3-year land assignment. CDR Reed was stationed at Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole, MA, prior to his current appointment on Oregon II. When his duties end here, he will be stationed at Newport, RI.

What do you like most about the job?

“I like traveling to all the different places and ports. I consider myself a foodie, so I like to go out to local restaurants.”

I know you live in Falmouth, MA, with your wife when you’re not at sea. What are your favorite restaurants there?

“I’d have to say Bluefins [Bluefins Sushi & Bar on Main Street in Falmouth], but we go to the Pickle Jar more often [also on Main Street]. We can walk to downtown, which is great.”

What hobbies do you have?

“I like to play video games and Dungeons and Dragons. I play curling in Falmouth. I like to ski in Colorado.” [He also loves puns! Sometimes the daily plan will have a pun from him to lighten the mood.]

If you could invent any tool to make your work more efficient and cost were no object, what would it be and why?

“The one tool [that is already invented] would be dynamic positioning. It’s an integrated system of computer controls that coordinate all engines automatically. Smaller ships can do this, but Oregon II is very analog. O II is single screw, meaning only one propeller. Some ships in NOAA’s fleet, like Okeanos Explorer, have that [technology].”

Drifter update

Here are links to see where our drifters are:

map of the southeastern U.S. coast from North Carolina to Florida (28 to 34 degrees North and roughly 81 to 75 degrees West.) a trackline of colored dots snakes up the east coast and then turns inland at North Carolina. the color scale ranges from 27-32 degrees Celsius. — Drifter 1 movement through Aug 19, 2025

map of the eastern U.S. coast from South Carolina to New Jersey (29 to 35 degrees North and roughly 79 to 72 degrees West.) a trackline of colored dots heads northeast, makes a loop off of South Carolina, and continues east out into the Atlantic. the color scale ranges from 28-30 degrees Celsius. — Drifter 1 movement through Aug 19, 2025

As of today, Drifter #1 is about 20 miles east of Topsail Beach, just north of Wilmington, NC. Drifter #2 made a solid loop in its track but now appears to be back in the Gulf Stream. Although we were nervous that we would not be close enough to the Gulf Stream during our initial plan to launch Drifter #3, it appears to have progressed well in that path.

Personal Log

Now that I am home and have some time to reflect, I appreciate how everyone on NOAA Ship Oregon II welcomed me into their family. Living on the ship for seventeen days requires patience, grace, and courtesy, and my shipmates were well-versed in all of that and more. I have to get back to school on August 26 (students start on September 2), and I know these folks are rooting for me to teach my students all about how I spent my summer.

a group photo of 8 people wearing life vests, standing in a line along the aft deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. — Day watch

a group photo of five people in a line on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. the city of Miami is visible in the distance across the water. — Day watch

First photo: Day watch, L to R: Evan Winters (volunteer), Tera Winters (contractor), Sean Gronquist (skilled fisherman), Cheryl Milliken (NOAA Teacher at Sea), Mike Fountain (oiler and stand-in crane operator and fisherman), Trey Driggers (chief scientist), Josh Cooper (lead boatswain), and Gretchen Kruizenga (senior survey technician).

Second photo: Night watch, L to R: Lila Xenakis (volunteer), Henry Legett (volunteer), Kristin Hannan (acting Fieldwork Coordinator and lead of night watch), Nick Hopkins (Fisheries Methods and Equipment Specialist at SEFSC), and Noah Harris (volunteer).

Prior to sailing, I was most concerned about seasickness. At my annual physical, I explained my trip to my primary care physician, and she prescribed Scopolamine patches for my time at sea. I was fortunate that when we left Pascagoula, we were in calm seas for a few days, and noticeable waves didn’t hit us until we were heading up the east coast of Florida. At that point, I felt a little queasy, but I chewed on some candied ginger and made sure to drink lots of water! I now know that there is a successful way for me to manage seasickness over a long period of time at sea. That was a game changer!

The meals on the ship were outstanding. We always had a choice of two meat entrees, a side, and fresh vegetables. Lots of people on the ship were focusing on getting enough protein, and Celeste met those needs with healthy portions. We had to sacrifice the large red groupers and red snappers for age and growth measurements (by extracting the ear stones, or otoliths), so people filleted the meat off those individuals, and we all enjoyed some fresh fish. The crew have amassed a huge assortment of condiments (including mayonnaise that doesn’t need refrigeration…!), so it was fun to try new sauces on things like pulled chicken and chicken tenders. My love for roasted vegetables has increased thanks to Celeste offering items I don’t generally eat!

It’s funny to think about the crew out on another leg, while I and several of my colleagues on Leg 1 will only sail once. I think a bunch of the volunteers will go out again, but my perspective of the cruise is the 16-day snapshot of our specific time together. Kristin Hannan is out with Teacher at Sea Robert Markuske, training him and helping to launch more ocean drifters.

I am excited to see what Lila Xenakis does in the future. She is a master’s student in the Daly-Engel Shark Conservation Lab at Florida Tech (Florida Institute of Technology). Students from this lab try to volunteer on the shark bottom longline survey because they get fin clip samples from sharks caught during the survey, which adds to their database of genetic samples. They need hundreds of samples to examine populations of sharks in a meaningful way, and it’s not fair to ask for samples without pitching in. Besides, who doesn’t want to experience sharks up close and personal?

Dr. Toby Daly-Engel and her students examine ecology and reproductive strategies of different shark species by examining patterns in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Some shark species exhibit philopatry, meaning they go back to their birthplace in order to reproduce. This behavior is also exhibited in turtles and river herring, for example. By looking at the DNA, these scientists can tell if the populations are mixing or if they are inbred. Samples from east of Florida and the southeast can answer these questions. The more questions that are answered, the more there are to answer! Scientific research is a never-ending journey to find the answers.

Did You Know?

Sharks have a unique organ for digestion known as the spiral valve. The microbiome (microorganisms that live) in sharks’ spiral valves differs not only from species to species, but even among the layers of the valve in an individual! The microbiome, or bacteria, must help digest different parts of their meal as it moves through the spiral valve.

Something to think about:

While on our trip, we were targeting large sharks and large reef fishes because of the hook size that was used. Meanwhile, in the waters around Cape Cod this summer people have seen several hammerhead sharks and a juvenile tiger shark: Hammerhead Sightings Increase In Upper Cape Waters; Fisherman Hooks Tiger Shark. In addition, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, with the help of MA Division of Marine Fisheries shark biologist Greg Skomal, tagged ten great white sharks in Cape Cod Bay this past month. Of course, this is the 50th anniversary of the release of Jaws, so the many events to signify this occasion keep sharks forefront in our minds here on the Cape.

Are the sharks being seen more frequently because people are looking for them? Is more food available to these sharks than in the past? Is the increase in temperature of waters off Cape Cod causing the sharks to stretch their distribution further north, or is it an anomaly? We will have to see, and I am glad NOAA Fisheries is out there collecting data on fishes over a long time frame to be able to make informed decisions about the species that are commercially important to us.

August 31, 2018August 31, 2018

Stephen Kade: Shark On! August 29, 2018

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Stephen Kade

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 23 – August 10, 2018

Mission: Long Line Shark/ Red Snapper survey Leg 1

Geographic Area: Southeastern U.S. coast

Date: August 29, 2018

Scientific Journal

“Shark On!” was the shout from the first person that sees a shark hooked to the long line that was being hauled up from the floor of the ocean. I heard this phrase often during the first leg of the long line Red Snapper/ shark survey on the NOAA ship Oregon II. We began fishing in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Palm Beach, Florida. We traveled north to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and back south to Port Canaveral over 12 days this summer.

Oregon II scientific crew, Chief Boatswain, and skilled fishermen hauling in the long line.

During our long line deployments each day, we were able to catch, measure, tag and photograph many sharks, before returning them to the ocean quickly and safely. During these surveys, we caught the species of sharks listed below, in addition to other interesting fish from the ocean. This blog has scientific information about each shark, and photographs taken by myself and other scientists on board the Oregon II. The following information on sharks, in addition to scientific data about hundreds of other marine wildlife can be found online at the NOAA Fisheries site: http://fisheries.noaa.gov.

Great Hammerhead Shark- Sphyrna mokarran Hammerhead sharks are recognized by their long, strange hammer-like heads which are called cephalofoils. Great hammerheads are the largest species of hammerheads, and can grow to a length of 20 feet. The great hammerhead can be distinguished from other hammerheads as they have a much taller dorsal fin than other hammerheads.

When moving through the ocean, they swing their broad heads from side to side and this motion provides them a much wider field of vision than other sharks. It provides them an all around view of their environment as their eyes are far apart at either end of the long hammers. They have only two small blind spots, in front of the snout, and behind the cephalofoil. Their wide heads also have many tiny pores, called ampullae of Lorenzini. They can sense tiny electric currents generated by fish or other prey in distress from far distances.

Male Great Hammerhead 10. 5 ft.

Great Hammerhead cephalofoil

The great hammerhead are found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, and inhabiting coastal areas in and around the continental shelf. They usually are solitary swimmers, and they eat prey ranging from crustaceans and squid, to a variety of bony fish, smaller sharks and stingrays. The great hammerhead can bear litters of up to 55 pups every two years.

Nurse Shark- Ginglymostoma cirratum Nurse sharks are bottom dwellers. They spend their life in shallow water, near the sandy bottom, and their orangish- pinkish color and rough skin helps them camouflage them. At night they come out to hunt. Nurse sharks have short, serrated teeth that can eat through crustaceans such as crabs, urchins, shrimp, and lobsters. They also eat fish, squid, and stingrays. They have two feelers, or barbels, which hang from either side of their mouth. They use their barbels to search for prey in the sand. Their average adult size is 7.5- 9 feet in length and they weigh between 160-230 lbs. Adult females reach a larger size than the males at 7- 8.5 feet long and can weigh from 200-267 lbs.

Nurse sharks are common in the coastal tropical waters of the Atlantic and also in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This species is locally very common in shallow waters throughout the Caribbean, south Florida to the Florida Keys. Large juveniles and adults are usually found around deeper reefs and rocky areas at depths of 10-250 feet during the daytime and migrate into shallower waters of less than 70 feet deep after dark.

Nurse shark in cradle

Juveniles up to 6 feet are generally found around shallow coral reefs, grass flats or mangrove islands in shallow water. They often lie in groups of forty on the ocean floor or under rock ledges. Nurse sharks show a preference for a certain resting site, and will repeatedly go back to to the same caves for shelter or rest after leaving the area to feed.

Tiger Shark- Galeocerdo cuvier Adult Tiger sharks average between 10 -14 feet in length and weigh up to 1,400 lbs. The largest sharks can grow to 20 feet and weigh nearly 2,000 lbs. They mature between 5 and 10 years, and their life span is 30 years or more. Tiger sharks are named for the brown stripes and patches they have on their sides when they are young. As they get older, they stripes eventually fade away.

juvenile tiger shark

They will eat almost anything they come across, and have been referred to as the “garbage cans of the sea”. Their habitat ranges from shallow coastal waters when they are young, to deep waters over 1,500 feet deep. They swim in shallow waters to hunt lobster, squid, fish, sea turtles, birds, and smaller sharks.

They migrate with the seasons to follow prey and to give birth to young. They swim in cool waters in the summer, and in fall and winter they migrate to warm tropical waters. Their young grow in eggs inside the mother’s body and after 13 months the sharks hatch. The mother gives birth to a litter of 10 – 80 pups. Their current status is currently Near Threatened.

TAS 2018 Stephen Kade returning sharpnose shark to ocean.

Sharpnose Shark- Rhizoprionodon terraenovae Atlantic sharpnose sharks are small for sharks and have a streamlined body, and get their name from their long, pointy snout. They are several different shades of gray and have a white underside. Atlantic sharpnose sharks can grow to up to 32 inches in length. Atlantic sharpnose sharks have been observed to live up to 18 years. Females mature at around 2 years old in the Atlantic when they reach approximately 24 inches in length. Atlantic sharpnose sharks are commonly found in the western Atlantic from New Brunswick, Canada, right through the Gulf of Mexico. They are commonly caught in U.S. coastal waters from Virginia around to Texas.

Atlantic sharpnose sharks eat small fish, including menhaden, eels, silversides, wrasses, jacks, toadfish, and filefish. The lower and upper jaws of an Atlantic sharpnose shark have 24 or 25 rows of triangular teeth. Atlantic sharpnose sharks mate annually between mid-May and mid-July in inshore waters, and after mating, they migrate offshore to deeper waters. They also eat worms, shrimp, crabs, and mollusks.

Sandbar Shark on long line

Sandbar Shark in cradle

Sandbar Shark- Carcharhinus plumbeus. The most distinctive feature of this stocky, grey shark is its huge pectoral fins, and long dorsal fin that increases its stability while swimming. Females can grow between 6 – 8.5 feet, and males grow up to 6ft. Its body color can vary from a blue to a light brown grey with a pale white underside. The sandbar shark lives in coastal waters, living in water that is 20 to 200 feet deep. Rarely is its large dorsal fin seen above the water’s surface, as the sandbars prefer to remain near the bottom. It commonly lives in harbors, lagoons, muddy and sandy bays, and river mouths, but never moves into freshwater. The sandbar shark lives in warm and tropical waters in various parts of the world including in the Western Atlantic, from Massachusetts down to southern Brazil.

The sandbar shark spends the majority of its time near the ocean floor, where it looks continuously for prey, such as small fish, mollusks, and various crustaceans. Their main diet consists largely of fish. Sandbar sharks give birth to between 1 and 14 pups in each litter. The size of the litter depends on the size of the mother, with large females giving birth to larger litters. Pregnancy is estimated to last between 8- 12 months. Females move near shore to shallow nursery areas to give birth. The females leave coastal areas after giving birth, while the young remain in the nursery grounds until winter, when they move into warmer and deeper water.

remora sucker pad

remora being weighed

Fun Fact- Remoras, or shark suckers, live in tropical oceans around the world. They have a rigid oval- shaped sucker pad on top of their head that it uses to attach itself to sharks and rays. It is symbiotic relationship where both animals gain something from their temporary union. Remoras mouths are at the top front of the body so while attached to a shark’s body, they do their host a favor by nibbling off skin parasites. They can also eat scraps of leftover food the shark leaves behind while they also enjoy a free ride. The shark gains a day at the spa for a body scrub, and can rid itself of parasites in a way it couldn’t have before!

Personal Journal

It was certainly an unforgettable experience being able to work with the scientific and fishing team for this shark survey. The opportunity to see and handle these sharks up close for two weeks has informed me of so many interesting things about these wonderful and vital members of the ocean. I can now take this information and share it first hand with students in my classroom, and members of my community. I also want to work to bring a positive awareness to these vital members of the ocean food web so they can thrive well into the future. As an artist, this trip has been invaluable for me, as now I’ve seen the how colorful and varied sharks are and other various anatomy details you just can’t see in books or television. This new awareness will help to make my future paintings more accurate than before.

August 15, 2018August 16, 2018

Stephen Kade: How Sharks Sense their Food & Environment, August 9, 2018

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Stephen Kade

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 23 – August 10, 2018

Mission: Long Line Shark/ Red Snapper survey Leg 1

Geographic Area: 30 19’ 54’’ N, 81 39’ 20’’ W, 10 nautical miles NE of Jacksonville, Florida

Date: August 9, 2018

Weather Data from Bridge: Wind speed 11 knots, Air Temp: 30c, Visibility 10 nautical miles, Wave height 3 ft.

Science and Technology Log

Sharks have senses similar to humans that help them interact with their environment. They use them in a specific order and rely on each one to get them closer for navigational reasons, and to find any food sources in the area around them. The largest part of the shark’s brain is devoted to their strong sense of smell, so we’ll start there.

snout of Tiger shark

snout of sharpnose shark

Smell– Sharks first rely on their strong sense of smell to detect potential food sources and other movement around them from a great distance. Odor travels into the nostrils on either side of the underside of the snout. As the water passes through the olfactory tissue inside the nostrils, the shark can sense or taste what the odor is, and depending which nostril it goes into, which direction it’s coming from. It is said that sharks can smell one drop of blood in a billion parts of water from up to several hundred meters away.

Sharks can also sense electrical currents in animals from long distances in several ways. Sharks have many electro sensitive holes along the snout and jaw called the Ampullae of Lorenzini. These holes detect weak electrical fields generated by the muscles in all living things. They work to help sharks feel the slightest movement in the water and sand and direct them to it from hundreds of meters away. This system can also help them detect the magnetic field of the earth and sharks use it to navigate as well.

Hearing– Sharks also heavily use their sense of smell to initially locate objects in the water. There are small interior holes behind their eyes that can sense vibrations up to 200 yards away. Sound waves travel much further in water than in the air allowing them to hear a great distance away in all directions. They also use their lateral lines, which are a fluid filled canal that runs down both sides of the body. It contains tiny pores with microscopic hairs inside that can detect changes in water pressure and the movement and direction of objects around them.

Sight– Once sharks get close enough to see an object, their eyes take over. Their eyes are placed on either side of their head to provide an excellent range of vision. They are adapted to low light environments, and are roughly ten times more sensitive to light than human eyes. Most sharks see in color and can dilate their pupils to adapt to hunting at different times of day. Some sharks have upper and lower eyelids that do not move. Some sharks have a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane, which is an eyelid that comes up from the bottom of the eye to protect it when the shark is feeding or in other dangerous situations. Other sharks without the membrane can roll their eyes back into their head to protect them from injury.

Touch– After using the previous senses, sometimes a shark will swim up and bump into an object to obtain some tactile information. They will then decide whether it is food to eat and attack, or possibly another shark of the opposite gender, so they can mate.

Taste– Sharks are most famous for their impressive teeth. Most people are not aware that sharks do not have bones, only cartilage (like our nose and ears) that make up their skeletal system, including their jaw that holds the teeth. The jaw is only connected to the skull by muscles and ligaments and it can project forward when opening to create a stronger bite force. Surface feeding sharks have sharp teeth to seize and hold prey, while bottom feeding sharks teeth are flatter to crush shellfish and other crustaceans. The teeth are embedded in the gums, not the jaw, and there are many rows of teeth behind the front teeth. It a tooth is damaged or lost, a new one comes from behind to replace it soon after. Some sharks can produce up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime.

Sandbar Shark teeth

Great Hammerhead Shark teeth

Personal Log

While I had a general knowledge of shark biology before coming on this trip, I’ve learned a great deal about sharks during my Teacher at Sea experience aboard the Oregon II. Seeing, observing, and holding sharks every day has given me first hand knowledge that has aided my understanding of these great creatures. The pictures you see of the sharks in this post were taken by me during our research at sea. I could now see evidence of all their features up close and I could ask questions to the fishermen and scientists onboard to add to the things I read from books. As an artist, I can now draw and paint these beautiful creatures more accurately based on my reference photos and first hand observations for the deck. It was amazing to see that sharks are many different colors and not just different shades of grey and white you see in most print photographs. I highly encourage everyone that has an interest in animals or specific areas of nature to get out there and observe the animals and places firsthand. I guarantee the experience will inspire you, and everyone you tell of the many great things to be found in the outdoors.

TAS Stephen Kade with a sharpnose shark

TAS Stephen Kade removes the hook from a sharpnose shark

Animals Seen Today: Sandbar shark, Great Hammerhead shark, Sharp nose shark

October 1, 2016August 21, 2021

Denise Harrington: A Shark A Day, September 29, 2016

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Denise Harrington

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

September 16-30, 2016

Mission: Longline Survey

Geographic Area: Gulf of Mexico

Date: Thursday, September 29, 2016

Science Log

The cruise is coming to a close. Looking back at my three experiences with NOAA, hydrography (mapping the ocean), fisheries lab work, or shark and snapper surveys, I couldn’t decide which was my favorite. Like the facets of a diamond, each experience gave me another perspective on our one world ocean.

Just like different geographic locations and work, each shark species give me a lens through which I can appreciate the mysteries of the ocean. Every day, I held, measured, kissed, or released a different species of shark. In the Gulf of Mexico, there are 44 shark species frequently caught. Fortunately, I saw quite a few, and will share some, in the order in which I met them.

Our first night fishing, we caught many Atlantic sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae). They are named for their long flat snout and sharp nose. It seemed whenever we caught one, a bunch more followed. They were abundant and kept us busy.

p1080163 — Paul Felts, Fisheries Biologist, records measurements while Kevin Rademacher, Fisheries Biologist, wrestles and measures the shark. Matt Ellis, NOAA Science Writer, took amazing pictures throughout the cruise.

Day two, we caught a deep water Cuban dogfish (Squalus cubensis).

p1090143 — The Cuban dogfish’s huge iridescent eyes were entrancing.

On September 2o, we almost caught a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas). We brought the cradle down, but the shark thrashed its way off, refusing to be studied. The bull shark, along with the tiger shark, are “one of the top three sharks implicated in unprovoked fatal attacks around the world.”

Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA FIsheries

Within a couple days of catching the Cuban dogfish, we caught another shark with iridescent eyes. It turns out this similar looking shark was not a Cuban dogfish, but a rare roughskin spiny dogfish (Cirrhigaleus asper).

p1080318 — Dr. Trey Driggers, Field Party Chief, and prolific shark researcher, surprised us all when he reported this was the first roughskin spiny dogfish he had ever caught!

The beautifully mottled, sleek, immature tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) caught on September 23 had remarkable skin patterns that apparently fade as the shark ages. Adult sharks can get as large as 18 feet and 2,000 pounds. Along with the bull shark, it is one of the top three species implicated in unprovoked, fatal attacks worldwide.

Paul Felts, Fisheries Biologist, measures the tiger shark’s length. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

Then, I release it. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

September 24 we caught a fascinating scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini). The flat extended head of this hammerhead is wavy, giving it the “scalloped” part of its name. Its populations in the Gulf have drastically decreased since 1981, making it a species of concern.

The scalloped hammerhead’s flat extended head is called a cephalofoil. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

It’s name comes from the dents, giving the cephalfoil a scalloped appearance. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

Here, Kevin measures one of several scalloped hammerhead sharks we caught on Leg IV of the survey.

We also caught a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis). Like other Carcharhinus sharks, the silky shark has a sharp “Carchar,” nose “hinus” (Greek derivation), but also has a silky appearance due to its closely spaced dermal denticles.

I instantly felt the silky was the most beautiful shark I’d seen. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

We saw two of the three smoothhound species present in the Gulf. On September 25, we caught a Gulf smoothhound, (Mustelus sinusmexicanus), a species named less than 20 years ago. Much is left to learn about the ecology and biology of this recently discovered shark.

Getting ready to weigh the gulf smoothhound, Kevin Rademacher, Fisheries Biologist, stops for a photo. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

Then, I watched the night crew catch, measure and tag a dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus).

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Photo: NOAA Fisheries

On September 26, we caught a sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus). Despite its size, the sandbar shark poses little threat to man.

The sandbar shark’s large fin to body ratio and size make them a prime target for commercial fisheries. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

Due to over-fishing, sandbar shark populations are said to have dropped by as much as 2/3 between the 1970’s and the 1990’s. They are now making a comeback, whether it be from fishing regulations, or the decreased populations of larger sharks feeding on juvenile sandbar sharks.

This sandbar shark attacked a blacknose shark that had taken our bait. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

We tagged many sharks during my two weeks on the Oregon II. If you never catch one of those sharks again, the tag doesn’t mean anything. But this week, we also caught a previously tagged sandbar shark! Recapturing a wild marine animal is phenomenal. You can learn about its migration patterns, statistically estimate population sizes, and learn much more. The many years of NOAA’s work with this species in particular demonstrates that thoughtful, long term management of a species works.

Recaptured sandbar shark

On September 27, we almost caught a nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). The barbels coming from its mouth reminded me of a catfish or exotic man with a mustache.

Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA

Today, September 29, was our last day of fishing, a bittersweet day for me. That nurse shark that got away, or more likely, another one like it, came up in our cradle.

The team works quickly. Here, Tim Martin, Chief Boatswain, maneuvers the shark so measurements can be taken. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

The hook is then quickly removed and the shark is back in the water within a couple minutes. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

Every day we caught sharks, including a few other species not mentioned here. Only once our line came back without a fish. The diverse characteristics and adaptations that allow each of these species to survive in a challenging marine environment inspire biologists as they try to categorize and understand the species they research. While catching so many different species of sharks gives me hope, many members of the crew reminisce about times gone by when fish were more abundant than they are now.

Personal Log

I am the kind of person who always struggles to return from an adventure. I have learned so much, I don’t want to leave. Yet I know my class at South Prairie is waiting patiently for my return. I hope to share these many marine species with my class so that we all may view every moment with curiosity and amazement.

Every day was this beautiful. Here I am on the bow, soaking it up. Photo: Kevin Rademacher

This small barracudina captured my attention just as much as the large Sandbar shark.. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

I was learning, whether I was crunching numbers or wrestling sharks. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

The leech would rather stick to a shark than me. Photo: Matt Ellis/NOAA Fisheries

September 10, 2015August 21, 2021

Jeff Miller: Wrestling Sharks for Science, September 9, 2015

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jeff Miller
Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II
August 31 – September 14, 2015

Mission: Shark Longline Survey
Geographical Area: Gulf of Mexico
Date: September 9, 2015

Data from the Bridge
Ship Speed: 9.4 knots
Wind Speed: 6.75 knots
Air Temp: 29.4°C
Sea Temp: 30.4°C
Seas: <1 meter
Sea Depth: 13 meters

GPS Coordinates
Lat: N 29 25.103
Long: W 092.36.483

Science and Technology Log
The major goal of our mission is to survey shark populations in the western Gulf of Mexico and collect measurements and biological samples. The sharks are also tagged so if they are re-caught scientists can learn about their growth and movements.

Sharks are members of the class of fishes called Chondrichthyes,which are cartilaginous fishes meaning they have an internal skeleton made of cartilage. Within the class Chondricthyes, sharks belong to the subclass Elasmobranchii together with their closest relatives the skates and rays. There are about 450 species of living sharks that inhabit oceans around the world.

Sharks, or better put their ancient relatives, have inhabited the oceans for approximately 450 million years and have evolved a number of unique characteristics that help them survive and thrive in virtually all parts of the world. The most recognizable feature of sharks is their shape. A shark’s body shape and fin placement allow water to flow over the shark reducing drag and making swimming easier. In addition, the shark’s cartilaginous skeleton reduces weight while providing strength and flexibility, which also increases energy efficiency.

Blacktip shark — Measuring a blacktip shark on deck. The blacktip shark shows the typical body shape and fin placement of sharks. These physical characteristics decrease drag and help sharks move more efficiently through water.

When I held a shark for the first time, the feature I noticed most is the incredible muscle mass and strength of the shark. The body of a typical shark is composed of over 60% muscle (the average human has about 35-40% muscle mass). Most sharks need to keep swimming to breathe and, therefore, typically move steadily and slowly through the water. This slow, steady movement is powered by red muscle, which makes up about 10% of a sharks muscle and requires high amounts of oxygen to produce fuel for muscle contraction. The other 90% of a sharks muscle is called white muscle and is used for powerful bursts of speed when eluding predators (other sharks) or capturing prey.

Since sharks are so strong and potentially dangerous, one lesson that I learned quickly was how to properly handle a shark on deck. Smaller sharks can typically be handled by one person. To hold a small shark, you grab the shark just behind the chondrocranium (the stiff cartilage that makes up the “skull” of the shark) and above the gill slits. This is a relatively soft area that can be squeezed firmly with your hand to hold the shark. If the shark is a bit feisty, a second hand can be used to hold the tail.

Holding a sharpnose shark — Smaller sharks, like this sharpnose shark, can be held by firmly grabbing the shark just behind the head.

Larger and/or more aggressive sharks typically require two sets of hands to hold safely. When two people are needed to hold a shark, it is very important that both people grab the shark at the same time. One person holds the head while the other holds the tail. When trying to hold a larger, more powerful shark, you do not want to grab the tail first. Sharks are very flexible and can bend their heads back towards their tail, which can pose a safety risk for the handler. While holding a shark sounds simple, subduing a large shark and getting it to cooperate while taking measurements takes a lot of focus, strength, and teamwork.

Holding a blacktip shark — Teamwork is required to handle larger sharks like this blacktip shark, which was caught because it preyed on a small sharpnose shark that was already on the hook.

Measuring a blacktip shark — Collecting measurements from a large blacktip shark.

When a shark is too big to bring on deck safely, the shark is placed into a cradle and hoisted from the water so it can be measured and tagged. We have used the cradle on a number of sharks including a 7.5 foot tiger shark and a 6 foot scalloped hammerhead shark. When processing sharks, we try to work quickly and efficiently to measure and tag the sharks to minimize stress on the animals and time out of the water. Once our data collection is complete, the sharks are returned to the water.

Tiger shark in the cradle — Large sharks, like this tiger shark, are hoisted up on a cradle in order to be measured and tagged.

Personal Log
We are now in full work mode on the ship. My daily routine consists of waking up around 7:30 and grabbing breakfast. After breakfast I like to go check in on the night team to see what they caught and determine when they will do their next haul (i.e. pull in their catch). This usually gives me a couple hours of free time before my shift begins at noon. I like to use my time in the morning to work on my log and go through pictures from the previous day. I eat lunch around 11:30 so I am ready to start work at noon. My shift, which runs from noon to midnight, typically includes surveying three or four different stations. At each station, we set our baited hooks for one hour, haul the catch, and process the sharks and fishes. We process the sharks immediately and then release them, whereas we keep the fish to collect biological samples (otoliths and gonads). Once we finish processing the catch, we have free time until the ship reaches the next survey station. The stations can be anywhere from 6 or 7 miles apart to over 40 miles apart. Therefore, our downtime throughout the day can vary widely from 30 minutes to several hours (the ship usually travels at about 10 knots; 1 knot = 1.15 mph). At midnight, we switch roles with the night team. Working with fish in temperatures reaching the low 90°s will make you dirty. Therefore, I typically head to the shower to clean up before going to bed. I am usually in bed by 12:30 and will be back up early in the morning to do it all over again. It is a busy schedule, but the work is interesting, exciting, and fun. I feel very lucky to be out here because not many people get the opportunity to wrestle sharks. This is one experience I will always remember.