Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pelagic Observer Program

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Southeast Fisheries Science CenterPelagic
Observer Program

• Shark Identification
• Sampling protocol

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Sharks
Note Ray measurement is wingtip-wingtip straight
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(No Transcript)
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BLUE
LONG THIN BODY SHAPE
SNOUT LONGER THAN WIDTH OF MOUTH
LONG PECTRAL FINS
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SHORTFIN MAKO
LUNATE TAIL
CONICAL SNOUT
SINGLE KEEL
UNDERSIDE WHITE
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LONGFIN MAKO
LUNATE TAIL
LARGE EYE
UNDERSIDE OF SNOUT AND JAW DUSKY OR MOTTLED
SINGLE KEEL
LONG PECTORAL FINS
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PORBEAGLE
LUNATE TAIL
WHITE PATCH
DOUBLE KEEL
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BIGEYE THRESHER
CHEVRON GROOVE
LARGE EYE
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COMMON THRESHER
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BLACKTIP
LACKS INTERDORSAL RIDGE
DIFFUSED MARKINGS ON ALL FINS EXCEPT ANAL FIN
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SPINNER
LACKS INTERDORSAL RIDGE
DEFINED MARKINGS ON ALL FINS INCLUDING ANAL FIN
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NIGHT
INTERDORSAL RIDGE PRESENT
LARGE, GREENISH EYE
SNOUT LONGER THAN WIDTH OF MOUTH
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SILKY
INTERDORSAL RIDGE PRESENT
FREE END OF SECOND DORSAL gt 2.5 TIMES THE HEIGHT
OF SECOND DORSAL
SNOUT SHORTER THAN WIDTH OF MOUTH
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DUSKY
INTERDORSAL RIDGE PRESENT
FREE END OF SECOND DORSAL lt 2.5 TIMES THE HEIGHT
OF SECOND DORSAL
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SANDBAR
LARGE DORSAL
INTERDORSAL RIDGE PRESENT
ROBUST BODY
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BULL
LARGE DORSAL FIN
LACKS INTERDORSAL RIDGE
ROBUST BODY
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OCEANIC WHITETIP
LARGE, ROUNDED FINS
WEAK INTERDORSAL RIDGE
PECTORALS AND DORSAL FIN TIPS ARE WHITE BLACK
IN JUVENILES
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TIGER
STRIPES ALONG DORSAL SURFACES
BLUNT SNOUT
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HAMMERHEAD (PICTURED SCALLOPED)
GREAT
SCALLOPED
SMOOTH
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Blue shark
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Shortfin mako
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Longfin mako
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Porbeagle
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top Porbeagle center Shortfin mako bottom Blue
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Bigeye thresher
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Common thresher
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Dusky
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Silky
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Blacktip
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Spinner
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top Spinner bottom Blacktip
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Bull
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Sandbar
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top Silky bottom Night
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Night
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Great hammerhead
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Scalloped hammerhead
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(No Transcript)
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Oceanic whitetip
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Tiger
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Pelagic ray
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Manta ray
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Centra (Vertebrae) Collection
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ID PHOTOGRAPHS ETC.

• One side view shot showing relationship of
  pectoral and dorsal fins
• Flip shark onto its back and take one photo
  showing the relationship between mouth width and
  snout length
• Photograph any other species-specific
  characteristics
• Note presence or absence of interdorsal ridge
• Collect portion of upper jaw for teeth/genetic ID

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Regulations

• Sharks are split into management units subject to
  quota opening and closing (rare except for LCS)
• Minimum size regulations suspended until further
  notice
• Prohibited species includes dusky, longfin mako,
  and bigeye thresher sharks.