Center for Shark Research (CSR) at Mote Marine Laboratory, 1997-1998. Final report.

Abstract

This report describes activities performed by the Center for Shark Research (CSR) at Mote Marine Laboratory from 1997 - 1998. The project includes shark field research primarily in coastal Mexican and Florida waters, of the Gulf. It involved fishery surveys and biological studies of the nursery areas and early life history of coastal shark species. All sharks and bycatch were documented and live sharks generally were tagged and released. The results of the surveys are summarized. A variety of laboratory studies were conducted utilizing specimens collected during the field surveys and from other resources. The studies and their primary results, and general activities, include shark field research in Mexico; South Carolina field research and training; participation in the 1997 National Marine Fisheries Service shark survey cruise in the Gulf of Mexico; southwest Florida shark field research in the Gulf of Mexico, including the 1997 Gulf Coast Shark Census; collaborative shark research with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Panama City Laboratory; maintenance and analysis of CSR shark-tagging database; laboratory studies of shark age, growth, and reproduction; participation in the annual MEXUS-Gulf meeting; and communication of scientific results at meetings and through scientific manuscript writing. The results of the scientific research were disseminated to the public through response to requests for information, and communication to print and broadcast media.