Tiger sharks are often classed as one of the most dangerous sharks in the ocean, second only to the Great White. Known to eat just about anything, these denizens of the deep have had their stomachs opened to reveal everything from chicken wire to charcoal. And while humans have been attacked by tiger sharks, they are not hunted down or sought after as prey by the sleek and powerful animals. Nevertheless, the tiger shark has developed a deadly reputation as a callous killing machine. That label is considered undeserving by members of the Bermuda Shark Project, who seek to de-mystify and de-monster the elegant animal. Riding an eleven foot long tiger shark by clinging to its dorsal fin as it winds its way through the watery deep is a definite way to do so!

Choy Aming and Dr. Neil Burnie have gained fame on YouTube and other social networking sites by posting videos of their awesome adventures riding the animals. Rather than being the stereotypical “Jackass” types however, the two are serious scientists and conservationists. Aming holds a degree in Wildlife Biology and possesses a wealth of experience in conservation projects. Dr. Burnie is a local veterinarian and champion of animals. Their footage shown on youtube (see below) suggests that these creatures are more gentle giant than vicious marauder. The image of the tiger shark being a savage killer does not quite fit with their personal observations and experiences, and so they have become dedicated to discovering more about them. The primary purpose of the project is to tag and track the tiger sharks and to record behavioural information on them.

Dr. Brad Wetherbee of the University of Rhode Island is one of the scientists involved with the team of tiger tamers based in Bermuda. He teaches in the Department of Biological Sciences at the university and his research is focused on the ecology of marine fishes. Dr. Wetherbee has been working with the Bermuda Shark Project for nearly a year, recruited after having assisted similar projects in the Unites States Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. He is involved with the deployment of transmitters and the analysis of data lifted from them, as well as consulting on what type of transmitters to use and their programming. I asked Dr. Wetherbee exactly what data is being recorded and researched by the Bermuda Shark Project staff.

“We have deployed two types of transmitters on the tiger sharks”, he said. “One type sends a signal to orbiting satellites when the shark surfaces and the transmitter antennae come above the water line.  This allows fairly accurate determination of the location of the shark and the transmitters have been conveying this information for as long as nine months now, sometimes on nearly a daily basis.  The second type of transmitter is carried on the back of the shark until it detaches and floats to the surface at a predetermined date.  At the surface the transmitter uploads archived light, depth and temperature data collected while the shark was carrying the transmitter.  With the light data it is possible to reconstruct the track of the shark by calculating latitude and longitude for each day.”

Dr. Wetherbee went on to state that the Bermuda sharks demonstrate seasonal migration patterns and behaviors that have never been observed in tiger sharks before. Bermuda is a known summer hub for tiger sharks, but no one knew where they arrived from, how long they stayed, or where they went after they left. By tracking the sharks once they’ve been tagged, the Bermuda Shark Project hopes to identify more of their migratory conduct and social behaviours.

Dr. Wetherbee concluded; “The Bermuda Shark Project is turning out to be tremendously instructive about movements of tiger sharks with applications towards tiger shark populations world wide.  Although tiger sharks are not usually targeted in commercial fisheries, they are still caught in large numbers as by-catch and there is concern over declines in their populations in the Western North Atlantic and elsewhere throughout the world.”

If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Brad Wetherbee and the Bermuda Shark Project, please visit http://www.atlanticconservationpartnership.com/p46/conservation/Bermuda-Shark-Project.aspx

Watch Scientist Ride A Shark Here