If you’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing sharks feeding in their natural habitat, you know what an immensely powerful and impressive spectacle it can be. For a long time now, filmmakers and others have been tracking sharks to witness their behavior; now, a team led by marine biologist Barbara Block is monitoring shark “cafés” to gain better insight into potential methods for increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Barbara Block was one of the 2012 Rolex Awards for Enterprise recipients, plus she has received the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science foundation; and for good reason: her work is making an impact. Let’s take a closer look.
Innovative Tracking Methods and Outstanding Results
From the years between 2000 and 2010, Barbara Block served as co-chief scientist for TOPP, the Tagging of Pacific Predators Program, which is part of the Census of Marine Life. This eighty-nation endeavor was established to assess ocean biodiversity. Block also established the Tuna Research and Conservation Center in partnership with California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium; she is also a senior fellow by courtesy at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment, where she continues to work with wildlife telemetry with a focus on predatory fishes.
Sharks are not the only marine predators wearing tracking devices these days. Tuna, whales, sea turtles, seals, and even some sea birds are five additional groups TOPP focused on. In all, twenty-three species occupying three popular marine hot spots where natural prey is abundant are being studied.
Using a new style of remote telemetry device called pop up satellite archival tags, Block and a team of colleagues are gaining incredible information about sharks and other ocean predators. These tags contain tiny computers that record both body temperature and ambient water temperature, along with depth and navigational information. The information they provide is helping researchers to gain better understanding about the way these animals interact with one another and the environment; in addition, it is helping scientists to gain important information about the animals’ biology.
By using the latest technology to monitor predators, Block and her co-workers are providing important advocacy not just for conservation as a whole, but for sustainable fisheries based on sound science, both at national and international levels.
A vital part of the program involves public outreach. In the “Tag a Giant” campaign, everyday people get the opportunity to participate in tagging tuna – important fish that are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Long-term goals include preserving tuna species, gaining greater insight about tuna and their importance within marine environments, and contributing valuable information to sustainable Bluefin tuna farms, which if successful would greatly decrease the amount of pressure wild tuna are subject to.
One new innovation being implemented is a robotic surfboard that uses solar power for monitoring predator activity. Nicknamed “Carey,” the Wave Glider is fitted with receivers that pick up acoustic tab signals from sharks and other marine animals. It travels off the Pacific Coast, picking up signals from distances as far as 300 meters away, and is part of a complete network of static receivers planned for future placement. Public outreach via Shark Net, which is an iOS app for iPad and iPhone, transmits data gathered by the Wave Glider to anyone who is interested in gaining greater information about the animals being tracked.
By giving everyday people the opportunity to look into individual animals’ lives, Barbara Block and those working with her are increasing awareness. People feel an instant attachment to the animals being studied, and that helps to improve understanding about the importance of protecting ocean biodiversity. With greater understanding being brought about by enhanced technology, predators and the web of life that relies on their health will benefit from the results of improved conservation.