Undersea Explorer tags a Tiger
Shark for Scientific Research - "Adam"
On Saturday 10th December, at remote Raine Island in
Far North Queensland, researchers onboard Undersea Explorer
tagged a 2.8m male Tiger Shark - nicknamed Adam. The shark is
the seventh Tiger shark tagged during the project, which is a
collaboration between Digital Dimensions, CSIRO, and Undersea
Explorer, and has been running for the past 5 years.
The satellite tag transmits GPS locations of the shark when it
surfaces to the CSIRO research base. From this we know in the
past week that Adam has surfaced daily, and has remained within
25kms of Raine Island Reef. Shark researcher Richard Fitzpatrick
used his unique tagging technique of clamping the sharks tail,
which slows it's movements. The regular surfacing of Adam
indicates a successful stress-free tagging process.
Undersea Explorer was at Raine Island last week with a group of
20 Adventure Divers, who enjoyed the excitement of the project,
as well as enjoying some incredible diving in the remote Far
Northern Great Barrier Reef.
Richard Fitzpatrick and Monique
Matthews fixing the Dorsal Sat Tag
Tag
62849 "ADAM"
Tagged
at Raine Island Lat 11 35.323 Long 144 01.867 Male tiger shark
Total length 288cm , Caudal notch 215cm Clasper length 25 cm Tag
activated at 15:30 8th Dec 2005
Map at Mid April 2006
Latest Map -
21st June 2006 (Back at Raine Island)
"Adam" - a young male Tiger Shark -
captured by tail rope method (no hooks)
Richard Fitzpatrick releasing "Adam" -
escorted to ensure mobility after tagging.
Tagging exercise - 15 minutes - animal exhibited no stress signs on
release.
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