this is wild chronicles
humans may fear sharks but it seems
sharks have more to fear from humans
a recent study suggests that overfishing
has slashed the population of sharks
just in the past decade for many species
the numbers have dropped by more than
fifty percent despite concerns people
continue reeling in these top predators
for food and sport in South Portland
Maine the shark hunting tournament draws
quite a crowd but these sport fishermen
not just here for a trophy catch
they’re fishing to promote research
mainly degree
they received a copy of the rulings and
a camera to record the Sharks they catch
tagged for research and then release the
so-called catch and release tournaments
or popular along the Atlantic seaboard
they’ll tag it release and you can track
the fish from miles away Spain berto
Rico along the east coast it’s really
the only way you can study a fish out in
the wild
even in summer mornings and main can be
cool at misty
the teams head off in search of sharks
that enter these waters on their summer
migration
on board the Karen Ann the fishermen are
joined by researchers who will study the
catch of the day snaring a shark takes
skill and strength sharks caught here
can weigh many hundreds of pounds ready
but this one is smaller
Oh
then put black
some species of shark grow only a few
inches annually and take 20 years to
become sexually mature their gestation
period lasts along nine months to two
years slow to grow and reproduce sharks
can easily be wiped out by overfishing
after gathering data the catch is
released not everyone condones this
merging of science and sport fishing but
biologists say it provides them a rare
opportunity to study these vulnerable
predators the biggest benefit for us is
literally to get more data we see more
fish and we talk with more anglers and
we’ll get to see more animals over the
course of the summer it’s all right
National Geographic Skylar a Burnett is
also on board the project his goal is to
attach a critter can to some of the
larger sharks
this fish is hefty and potentially
dangerous the fishermen and researchers
must move quickly but carefully to
secure the fish and gather data kyler
snaps the camera on the dorsal fin it
will record what the shark sees before
releasing and floating to the surface
giving researchers unique insight into
life underwater finally it’s time to
release the shark back into the deep
but not all sharks in the tournament
return to the scene larger mature sharks
are brought in to be we’d it’s 40 2.5
wow that’s a big blue shirt these big
guys will be delivered to biologists
Lisa Nate ends who studies that remains
we could definitely do our research
without the tournament’s the
tournament’s make it a lot easier the
Fisher brought in and they let us come
sample which is great we could get them
in other ways if we had to but this just
makes it easier for us by studying the
contents of their stomachs their guts
and reproductive systems scientists hope
to learn more about the impact of
pollution and habitat change on shark
populations
the fishermen say that for the most part
they’re here for fun they enjoy the
challenge of catching an apex predator
but many seem pleased that they are in
some ways hoping the researchers
dedicated to protecting sharks I think
this is a very good tournament I agree
with the the practices going on at this
tournament they are trying to limit the
amount of smaller sharks brought in
there’s a lot of guys you’re getting
points for tagging and releasing small
sharks which again is going to help with
a research in many ways the cooperation
between sportsmen conservationists seems
natural both have an interest in keeping
a viable population of sharks in these
coastal waters fishermen scientists say
will hold tournaments and real land
sharks with or without them by joining
forces researchers get valuable
specimens to study and many sharks get a
chance to live another day this time the
fish that got away is not a loss but a
cause for celebration
check for wild products on your local
PBS station sponsored by National
Geographic mission programs taking
science and exploration into the new
millennium
humans may fear sharks but it seems
sharks have more to fear from humans
a recent study suggests that overfishing
has slashed the population of sharks
just in the past decade for many species
the numbers have dropped by more than
fifty percent despite concerns people
continue reeling in these top predators
for food and sport in South Portland
Maine the shark hunting tournament draws
quite a crowd but these sport fishermen
not just here for a trophy catch
they’re fishing to promote research
mainly degree
they received a copy of the rulings and
a camera to record the Sharks they catch
tagged for research and then release the
so-called catch and release tournaments
or popular along the Atlantic seaboard
they’ll tag it release and you can track
the fish from miles away Spain berto
Rico along the east coast it’s really
the only way you can study a fish out in
the wild
even in summer mornings and main can be
cool at misty
the teams head off in search of sharks
that enter these waters on their summer
migration
on board the Karen Ann the fishermen are
joined by researchers who will study the
catch of the day snaring a shark takes
skill and strength sharks caught here
can weigh many hundreds of pounds ready
but this one is smaller
Oh
then put black
some species of shark grow only a few
inches annually and take 20 years to
become sexually mature their gestation
period lasts along nine months to two
years slow to grow and reproduce sharks
can easily be wiped out by overfishing
after gathering data the catch is
released not everyone condones this
merging of science and sport fishing but
biologists say it provides them a rare
opportunity to study these vulnerable
predators the biggest benefit for us is
literally to get more data we see more
fish and we talk with more anglers and
we’ll get to see more animals over the
course of the summer it’s all right
National Geographic Skylar a Burnett is
also on board the project his goal is to
attach a critter can to some of the
larger sharks
this fish is hefty and potentially
dangerous the fishermen and researchers
must move quickly but carefully to
secure the fish and gather data kyler
snaps the camera on the dorsal fin it
will record what the shark sees before
releasing and floating to the surface
giving researchers unique insight into
life underwater finally it’s time to
release the shark back into the deep
but not all sharks in the tournament
return to the scene larger mature sharks
are brought in to be we’d it’s 40 2.5
wow that’s a big blue shirt these big
guys will be delivered to biologists
Lisa Nate ends who studies that remains
we could definitely do our research
without the tournament’s the
tournament’s make it a lot easier the
Fisher brought in and they let us come
sample which is great we could get them
in other ways if we had to but this just
makes it easier for us by studying the
contents of their stomachs their guts
and reproductive systems scientists hope
to learn more about the impact of
pollution and habitat change on shark
populations
the fishermen say that for the most part
they’re here for fun they enjoy the
challenge of catching an apex predator
but many seem pleased that they are in
some ways hoping the researchers
dedicated to protecting sharks I think
this is a very good tournament I agree
with the the practices going on at this
tournament they are trying to limit the
amount of smaller sharks brought in
there’s a lot of guys you’re getting
points for tagging and releasing small
sharks which again is going to help with
a research in many ways the cooperation
between sportsmen conservationists seems
natural both have an interest in keeping
a viable population of sharks in these
coastal waters fishermen scientists say
will hold tournaments and real land
sharks with or without them by joining
forces researchers get valuable
specimens to study and many sharks get a
chance to live another day this time the
fish that got away is not a loss but a
cause for celebration
check for wild products on your local
PBS station sponsored by National
Geographic mission programs taking
science and exploration into the new
millennium
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