HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Today, WAVY is on shark watch.
OCEARCH is a global non-profit research and education organization. They track sharks all over the world to conduct ocean research.
At the WAVY Digital Desk, Host Sarah Goode spoke with Chief Scientist Dr. Bob Hueter about the organization, collecting data, and the sharks in our waters. Watch the conversation in the video player on this page.
Since the mid-2000s the team of scientists at OCEARCH has run 45 expeditions all over the world, learning more through tracking the animals.
To date, OCEARCH has tagged over 400 sharks. 92 of those are off the East Coast. Hueter says the goal for the East Coast project is to tag 100. A goal they hope to reach within the next year. The next expedition in the region is slated for November 2023.
Although shark tracking is a user-friendly and interactive feature of their research, the data they are collecting is for a greater purpose.
“Our main mission is to help collect the data that will help build the oceans back to ecological balance after many decade of overfishing and other problems,” said Hueter. “The nice thing is we are winning this battle on the east coast of the United States. And, we are trying to contribute to the same kinds of efforts around the world.”