Tiger Shark Study Reveals Findings
Tiger Shark Study Reveals Findings
Posted May 19, 2016Shark researchers Dr. Carl Meyer, Dr. Kim Holland and their student team from the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) at the University of Hawai’i completed a study to better understand tiger shark movement patterns around Maui and O’ahu. The State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) commissioned the study to find answers to a spike in shark bites off Maui in 2012 and 2013.
A total of 41 tiger sharks were tagged off Maui and O’ahu to track their movements over two years. The study revealed that tiger sharks prefer the insular shelf habitat (from the shoreline to a depth of 600ft), supporting a wide variety of shark prey. Maui Nui has more shelf habitat than all other Main Hawaiian Islands combined, which not only supports resident tiger sharks but also attracts sharks from other parts of Hawai’i. Areas around Maui that are most frequently visited by sharks are in close proximity to popular recreation areas, which may explain the increased level of shark encounters. Learn more about the study results and access the full report. PacIOOS makes tiger shark tracks available online and provides funding for ongoing and future tagging efforts. While the tracks do not serve as a warning or real-time monitoring system, they raise awareness about the ocean environment and inform long-term decision-making.
