Tracked tigershark zig-zags across Caribbean

(CNS): Tina the Tiger shark who left Grand Cayman in January carrying a special tag is currently swimming around the western Caribbean according to the tracking satellite. Tina is part of a scientific project aimed at addressing the seriously decreasing numbers of sharks globally as a result of their key role in healthy marine ecosystems. A collaborative project between the Department of Environment (DoE), Marine Conservation International (MCI), the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University and the Save Our Seas Foundation the team is working to better understand sharks in the Cayman Islands region with the goal of improving conservation management .

Tina is helping us to understand how sharks behave and her latest movements have been very interesting, officials revealed this week. Having been tagged in mid December off Grand Cayman, she left for southern Cuba in February and then in late March headed for Honduras, arriving in early April. She didn’t remain there long before she headed north and east, passing Grand Cayman for Jamaica and on south and then began to move north again.

“Tina has made a significant contribution to our understanding of large shark behaviour and their relationship with our seas,” Tim Austin, Deputy Director of the DoE, said.

Tina is not alone in the project as the team are also tracking Luiza, a second tiger shark who remains close to home off Grand Cayman. Dr. Mauvis Gore Luiza said the contrast between the two is very interesting.

The team is working with fishermen and divers whose expertise and observations are important to the project. Any sightings of shark, whale or dolphin helps and can be reported to the DoE at DOE@GOV.KY or on 949-8469.