Center for Shark Research (CSR) at Mote Marine Laboratory. Final report.

Abstract

The primary goal of this project was to establish the national Center for Shark Research (CSR) at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. The development of this center enables the following objectives: conduct and advance basic and applied scientific research on sharks, skates, and rays; communicate scientific research and news about sharks; provide scientific information on sharks to public policy makers; expand scientific cooperation in national and international issues involving sharks and shark biology; and increase public understanding of the biology and importance of sharks, skates and rays. The primary scientific purpose of the CSR is to bring together and support a working group of scientists, both in-house and visiting, in conjunction with a unique combination of research facilities for shark research, in order to advance contemporary, interdisciplinary studies. The CSR is designed to provide a focus as well as a longer term stability for these studies. With the need for research data relevant to the management of the commercial and recreational shark fishery, an emphasis was placed initially on research projects on the population, biology, life history, and ecology of sharks, and other biological information relating to shark fisheries and stock assessment.