Shark research expedition completed

MOSSEL BAY NEWS FLASH - The OCEARCH research expeditions are complete, a history-making success for the more than 30 leading South African and international shark researchers from over 16 institutions who participated.

The researchers and crew of the MV OCEARCH tagged, sampled and released over 40 sharks - primarily Great Whites. Among them was a female shark named Success, at 5.1m, the largest Great White ever tagged in South Africa.

Expedition Leader and OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer credits the expeditions' accomplishments to preparation and exceptional hard work by the scientists and crew.

"Since 2007, we have executed 12 expeditions, catapulting the body of knowledge forward on the science of the ocean's giants. Those expeditions prepared us for South Africa, the most demanding expedition to date."

Fischer believes this access will allow South African researchers to push science beyond current knowledge boundaries.
"We will discover South Africa's White Shark breeding aggregations, birthing sites and feeding areas," he says.

"Breeding and birthing areas, where White Sharks are most vulnerable, are a great concern. For the first time, we will have the information necessary to affect policy correctly and ensure a bright future for the White Sharks of South Africa."

- Mossel Bay Advertiser