CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) assists the NSRC bull shark tagging program in the Loxahatchee River

CSA is pleased to announce that it has donated 10 acoustic tags as well as scientific volunteers to the Florida Program for Shark Research (FPSR) at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida.

As part of the FPSR program, CSA scientists will work with researchers from the University of Florida and Florida International University in tagging bull sharks in the Loxahatchee River portion of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Data from this study will contribute information concerning the habitat by juvenile bull sharks within the Indian River Lagoon.

The FPSR, Florida International University, and cooperating partner institutions currently maintain a passive acoustic monitoring system that includes moored receiving stations placed at key locations throughout the IRL, including the Loxahatchee River. The system monitors the movements of tagged bull sharks, bluntnose stingrays, smooth butterfly rays, spotted eagle rays, and cownose rays. Various other species of bony fishes and sea turtles with tags compatible with the acoustic monitoring system are tracked within the array as well.

The research team plans to present a poster on this NSRC program at the 5th Loxahatchee River Watershed Science Symposium from 29 to 30 March 2011.