UVic researcher assists in first-ever tracking of tiger shark in Tubbataha reef

An international research team recently placed the first ever satellite tracking tag on a tiger shark in one of the world's most pristine reefs—the UNESCO world heritage site, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, which teems with marine life and draws scuba divers from around the world—and is now tracking its movements in real time. University of Victoria geographer Phil Dearden is assisting this project, which is led by the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) and the marine conservation group Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE).

Sharks play a crucial role in marine biodiversity and the new research will have significant impact on shark conservation in Southeast Asia and the Philippines by tracking the movements of this 3.36-metre female tiger shark by satellite. In addition to the satellite tag, the researchers also attached acoustic tags to a number of sharks and placed acoustic receivers on the ocean floor surrounding the reef. The receivers create a record whenever a shark comes in range and provide a finer-scale analysis of shark movements.

Dearden is part of a continuing collaboration including scientists from South America, Europe and North America to improve understanding and management of this reef. He is an expert in marine conservation and marine protected areas in Southeast Asia, as well as on whale sharks and the dangers of a rapidly growing whale shark tourism industry. The shark tagging team led by TMO and LAMAVE also includes scientists from the US-based Marine Megafauna Foundation and James Cook University in Australia.

For more details on the tagging project, see the original LAMAVE news release.

• Follow the hashtag #TubbatahaTiger
• High-resolution images on Dropbox

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Media availability: Dearden was outside Canada this month and not readily accessible, but returns July 15 to email access. Interviews can be arranged through the contacts below.