Boston Harbor, once known for its pollution, is now a thriving shark habitat, particularly for the sand tiger shark population. Researchers at the New England Aquarium have been tagging, tracking, and counting these sharks in the harbor, which they believe serves as a nursery ground for the species. Over the years, the sand tiger shark population had declined significantly due to overfishing, but conservation efforts have helped the species make a comeback.
The young sand tiger sharks are born off the coast of Florida and North Carolina before migrating north to Boston Harbor, where they feed on pogies. Researchers have been collecting data on these sharks by tagging them with acoustic telemetry to monitor their movements within the harbor and along the East Coast. The information gathered will help identify critical areas for the sharks and determine if Boston Harbor is a true nursery ground for them.
So far, the research team has tagged 11 juvenile sand tiger sharks in Quincy Bay and monitored their movements within the harbor. They have observed that the sharks arrive in July and stay until mid-September before beginning their southward migration. Some of these sharks return to the same area in Boston Harbor year after year.
Overall, the success of the sand tiger shark population in Boston Harbor is not only a testament to conservation efforts but also a unique opportunity for researchers to study the behavior and movements of these sharks in an urban environment. The study aims to further understand why juvenile sharks are attracted to Boston Harbor and how they utilize the area as a nursery ground.
Source
Photo credit www.bostonherald.com