Basking Shark Sightings??? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dos ballenas · 04-25-2011, 12:18 PM

Hello all,

I know this isn't necessarily kayak related but there is a chance some of you may see these guys on the water while kayaking or stink boating. Or maybe you know someone who has seen one in the past. Either way, I'm looking for your help in spreading the word about the current project on basking sharks in the Pacific ocean.

NOAA is currently investigating the elusive basking shark (Cetorhinua maximus). The basking shark was recently designated a Species of Concern:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/spe...k_detailed.pdf

The Spot a Basking Shark Project is an effort by researchers at the Pacific Shark Research Center (PSRC) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to better understand the abundance, distribution and movements of basking sharks in the eastern North Pacific. NMFS has designated the basking shark a “Species of Concern” in these waters, and filling vital knowledge gaps will help inform any recovery plan to rebuild the basking shark population. Download the NMFS Species of Concern factsheet (pdf).

http://psrc.mlml.calstate.edu/curren...basking-shark/

On Sunday, June 6th, 2010, eight miles offshore from San Diego, California, Dr. John Hyde, the supervisor of FRD's Molecular Genetics program, and Owyn Snodgrass, a member of the FRD Large Pelagics Program, successfully tagged a basking shark, the first time this has been done in the Pacific Ocean. Satellite technology will be used to track the movements of basking sharks and determine how oceanography influences where they go and what they do. The tags will record temperature and depth throughout the track allowing us to look at habitat use. To determine the shark’s locations the tag will both link to GPS satellites when it is at the surface and record light levels which will allow us to estimate latitude and longitude.
Learn more about the project here...

Watch a video of the tagging effort.

Photo credit: Gregory B. Skomal

How you can help!

If you see a basking shark while you are on the water and can call from your vessel, please call:

Owyn Snodgrass at (858)342-6372, or John Hyde at (760) 408-7726

If you wish to report a sighting after you have returned to land please provide the date, time and location of the sighting, as well as any comments to (858)342-6372 or send an email to Heidi.Dewar@noaa.gov.

We also want to hear about past sightings of basking sharks!

Any photos or video would also be appreciated and can be sent to:

Heidi.Dewar@noaa.gov

Heidi Dewar
NOAA Fisheries, SWFSC
8604 La Jolla Shore Dr.
La Jolla, CA 92037

BWE · 04-25-2011, 12:29 PM

Right on Owen,
sticky it is,
thanks for posting!!!!

dos ballenas · 05-13-2011, 10:04 AM

Keep your eyes peeled... there was a shark spoted near Point Loma this week!

-Owyn

dos ballenas · 05-20-2011, 01:53 PM

They are here! We tagged one Sunday!!!!

Pampano · 08-21-2011, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the info. I was out about 3 miles south of Newport Bay Saturday August 20, 2011 no luck, I will keep your phone numbers handy. Great research.

04-25-2011, 12:18 PM	#1
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	Basking Shark Sightings??? Hello all, I know this isn't necessarily kayak related but there is a chance some of you may see these guys on the water while kayaking or stink boating. Or maybe you know someone who has seen one in the past. Either way, I'm looking for your help in spreading the word about the current project on basking sharks in the Pacific ocean. NOAA is currently investigating the elusive basking shark (Cetorhinua maximus). The basking shark was recently designated a Species of Concern: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/spe...k_detailed.pdf The Spot a Basking Shark Project is an effort by researchers at the Pacific Shark Research Center (PSRC) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to better understand the abundance, distribution and movements of basking sharks in the eastern North Pacific. NMFS has designated the basking shark a “Species of Concern” in these waters, and filling vital knowledge gaps will help inform any recovery plan to rebuild the basking shark population. Download the NMFS Species of Concern factsheet (pdf). http://psrc.mlml.calstate.edu/curren...basking-shark/ On Sunday, June 6th, 2010, eight miles offshore from San Diego, California, Dr. John Hyde, the supervisor of FRD's Molecular Genetics program, and Owyn Snodgrass, a member of the FRD Large Pelagics Program, successfully tagged a basking shark, the first time this has been done in the Pacific Ocean. Satellite technology will be used to track the movements of basking sharks and determine how oceanography influences where they go and what they do. The tags will record temperature and depth throughout the track allowing us to look at habitat use. To determine the shark’s locations the tag will both link to GPS satellites when it is at the surface and record light levels which will allow us to estimate latitude and longitude. Learn more about the project here... Watch a video of the tagging effort. Photo credit: Gregory B. Skomal How you can help! If you see a basking shark while you are on the water and can call from your vessel, please call: Owyn Snodgrass at (858)342-6372, or John Hyde at (760) 408-7726 If you wish to report a sighting after you have returned to land please provide the date, time and location of the sighting, as well as any comments to (858)342-6372 or send an email to Heidi.Dewar@noaa.gov. We also want to hear about past sightings of basking sharks! Any photos or video would also be appreciated and can be sent to: Heidi.Dewar@noaa.gov Heidi Dewar NOAA Fisheries, SWFSC 8604 La Jolla Shore Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037 __________________ ____________________________________________ Last edited by dos ballenas; 04-25-2011 at 04:48 PM.

05-13-2011, 10:04 AM	#3
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	Keep your eyes peeled... there was a shark spoted near Point Loma this week! -Owyn __________________ ____________________________________________

05-20-2011, 01:53 PM	#4
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	They are here! We tagged one Sunday!!!! __________________ ____________________________________________

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04-25-2011, 12:29 PM	#2
BWE Administrator Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 131	Right on Owen, sticky it is, thanks for posting!!!!

08-21-2011, 08:25 PM	#5
Pampano Junior Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19	Thanks for the info. I was out about 3 miles south of Newport Bay Saturday August 20, 2011 no luck, I will keep your phone numbers handy. Great research.