White shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Status: Vulnerable
The white shark is a vital apex predator that overwinters in the southeast US and Gulf of Mexico. There are gaps in our knowledge and understanding of this species’ reproductive cycle that can be filled with targeted field work to sample and tag mature males and females at this time of year.

Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
Status: Endangered
Dusky sharks, vital to ecosystem balance, regulate prey populations and prevent overpopulation. Overfishing has endangered this species (IUCN). Tracking them helps protect critical habitats, ensuring sustainable fish stocks and supporting fisheries.

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)
Status: Critically Endangered
The sand tiger shark is a distinctive species characterized by its long, sharp teeth that remain visible even when its mouth is closed. Along the east coast of Florida, these sharks are often found around wrecks and artificial reefs, making them popular among divers. Currently listed as Critically Endangered (IUCN), their populations are under threat due to overfishing and habitat loss. Tagging and sampling of sand tiger sharks can provide critical insights into their migratory routes, habitat preferences, seasonality, health, and reproductive biology, enhancing our understanding of their life history and response to environmental pressures.

Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Status: Near Threatened
As an apex predator and scavenger, the tiger shark regulates prey species’ populations and consumes dead and weakened animals, which contributes to the overall health of marine ecosystems. Although their migration patterns in the western North Atlantic are well-studied, we have much to learn from taking health and toxicology samples from these nondiscriminant feeders.

Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
Status: Critically Endangered
The great hammerhead is the largest species in the hammerhead family (Sphyrnidae) and is listed as Critically Endangered (IUCN) due to steep population declines across its range. This top predator plays a vital role in controlling prey species such as rays, skates, and smaller fish – and this regulation prevents overgrazing on critical habitats like seagrass beds and coral reefs. The opportunistic tagging of great hammerheads can reveal migration routes and highlight critical habitats such as breeding grounds and important feeding areas. Identifying these key areas can help create marine protected areas (MPAs) and safeguard key migratory corridors.

Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)
Status: Vulnerable
The smooth hammerhead is mid trophic level predator that is often unintentionally caught in commercial fishing gear like longlines and gillnets and harvested for their highly valuable fins. This species is listed as Vulnerable with a Decreasing Population Trend by the IUCN. As a highly migratory species, smooth hammerheads are indicators of transboundary conservation challenges and the need for international cooperation. Satellite and acoustic tagging can reveal migratory routes, seasonal shifts, and connections between populations.

Scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini)
Status: Critically Endangered
Scalloped hammerheads are recognized by their unique, scalloped-shaped head (cephalofoil), which enhances sensory abilities and maneuverability, making them efficient hunters. Like the smooth hammerhead, this species has been heavily impacted by non-targeted fisheries and is currently listed as Critically Endangered (IUCN). Tagging scalloped hammerhead sharks is crucial for their protection and sustainability as it provides valuable data on their migratory routes, feeding areas, and seasonal movements, which helps identify critical habitats that need protection. Further, it allows scientists to monitor population trends, assess the impacts of fishing activities, and better understand their behavior in response to environmental changes.

Carolina hammerhead shark (Sphyrna gilberti)
Status: Data Deficient
The Carolina hammerhead shark is a rare and recently identified species closely resembling the scalloped hammerhead. Discovered in 2013, it is known for having fewer vertebrae—about 10 fewer than the scalloped hammerhead—which is a key distinguishing feature. Carolina hammerheads are believed to inhabit the waters off the southeastern United States, particularly near South Carolina, and use shallow coastal areas as nurseries. Much about this species remains unknown and it is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN, making research and conservation vital to understanding and protecting this shark.

Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Status: Vulnerable
The blacktip shark is a sleek, fast-swimming species known for its pointed snout, black-tipped fins, and impressive aerial displays when hunting or evading predators. Along the east coast of Florida, blacktip sharks are famous for their massive annual migrations, where thousands gather nearshore during the winter months. Tagging blacktips reveals migration patterns and helps identify critical areas for conservation while sampling offers data on population health, genetic diversity, and reproduction, contributing to a better understanding of their life history and resilience to environmental changes. Collectively this information is vital for ensuring the sustainability of the species, which plays a key role in maintaining coastal ecosystem balance.

Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)
Status: Vulnerable
Spinner sharks are a highly migratory medium-sized species. Like the blacktip shark, the species has black-tipped fins and are similarly known to aggregate in large groups in coastal waters during the winter months (Jan-Mar). Their common name comes from their unique behavior of spinning when they emerge from the water while pursuing schools of fish. The tagging of spinner sharks enables us to better monitor population movement trends and identify possible range extensions – which can be of particular importance in the face of climate change.