Shark conservation is a continuous effort, and the Hart Research Institute relies on support from many anglers to delve deeper into shark behavior in the Gulf.
We spoke with Jensen Smith, a graduate research assistant at the Hart Research Institute, who highlights the crucial role anglers and fishermen play in these conservation efforts.
Currently, the Texas Shark Rodeo is in full swing, with the Sharkathon scheduled to start later in the fall.
These programs enable anglers to assist the institute in gathering valuable information about the sharks in our waters.
“We actually have a lot of support from anglers to protect and work on conservation,” Smith said.
Here’s how it works: Each registered team heads out into the Gulf to catch, tag, and fin clip sharks. They then send this data to the Hart Research Institute, which uses it to monitor and track the sharks.
“We’re able to get a better understanding of the inshore sharks’ behavior, especially since they’re tagged,” Smith explained.
This year, the Texas Shark Rodeo features 20 teams. Team Breakaway leads with 160 sharks caught, 154 tagged, and 156 fin clipped.
Despite the support from anglers, challenges remain in keeping Gulf wildlife safe due to its location.
“We face illegal fishing practices occurring daily in the Gulf,” Smith said.
This highlights the ongoing need for conservation efforts.
The Texas Shark Rodeo concludes on December 31st at midnight, and the Sharkathon starts on October 25th.
