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Oceanic Whitetips: Bahamian Sharks Counted by Dorsal Fin
6 Nov
Summary
- Dorsal fin features identify individual sharks, improving population counts.
- GoPro cameras captured footage of 50 unique oceanic whitetip sharks.
- Researchers aim to expand surveys across The Bahamas archipelago.
In late April 2023 and again in 2024, Florida International University (FIU) researchers conducted fieldwork off Cat Island in The Bahamas to assess oceanic whitetip shark populations. They deployed baited GoPro cameras, successfully filming 50 individual sharks over two seasons. These sharks were identified by unique characteristics of their dorsal fins, a method that proved more effective than traditional counts.
This groundbreaking survey, led by Bahamian marine biologist Candace Fields, utilized two types of camera rigs: a drifting setup and a tethered bait cage. The study found that fin identification allowed researchers to distinguish up to three times more sharks than previous estimates, offering a crucial advancement in understanding this critically endangered species.
Oceanic whitetips face significant threats, primarily from bycatch in commercial fisheries and demand for their fins, leading to an estimated 80 to 95 percent population drop in the Pacific since the mid-1990s. The IUCN lists them as Critically Endangered. The research team plans to expand their camera surveys to more locations within The Bahamas to determine if sharks migrate between islands.
