The following story is contributed by the Florida Museum of
Natural History, www.flmnh.ufl.edu. From the Atlantic to the
Gulf of Mexico, Florida Museum of Natural History researchers
are busy studying sharks in nursery areas to better understand
population dynamics and habitat use. In August, biologists Jason
Romine and Johanna Imhoff offered a first-hand glimpse into two
of these projects. First stop: A day tagging juvenile sharks in
the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Program for Shark Research boat
had barely enough room for its three occupants. The 17-foot flat
hull held two large garbage pails for gill nets, three large
orange buoys, three anchors, a measuring board, several ice
chests and assorted tool kits and waterproof boxes that held an
array of gear and scientific equipment. The program is currently
seeking a new donated boat. People might assume that shark
research is well funded, but commercial fishing drives much of
the research agenda, Romine said. Fishes such as grouper and
snapper receive more re