Step off the shoreline and into the heart of shark conservation and marine research. Join us for an immersive marine science weekend in Miami, where we’ll go beyond observation to become active participants in shark research as we catch and tag sharks, explore what’s behind the scenes at a NOAA lab, and submerge ourselves in marine creatures living in Biscayne Bay.
- Friday afternoon: Go behind the scenes – Discover the research in progress to protect marine environments at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory at the University of Miami. Our tour will include the Experimental Reef Laboratory, featuring 16 completely independent aquarium systems, each programmable to adjust pH, oxygen, temperature, and light, with a fully automated logging and control system that facilitates real-time manipulation of dynamic levels for temperature, pH, oxygen, and/or light treatments. We’ll also stop by the robotic aquaculture aquaria, CT scanning, and 3D printing facilities.
- Saturday – Aboard the research vessel Garvin – In our highlight adventure, we’ll work alongside marine conservation biologist Dr. David Shiffman and his expert team from The Field School to better understand the ocean’s top predators, sharks. Spend the day deploying gear, measuring, tagging, and collecting vital data from sharks and other species in Miami Bay. You’ll be contributing to active research by collecting data to monitor the health and movement of several shark species found there, as well as other top predators such as barracuda.
- Sunday: Into the sea – Snorkel the vibrant ecosystems of Biscayne National Park. Depending on the day’s conditions, we will snorkel among coral reefs or quiet mangrove nurseries to see the incredible juvenile marine life these habitats support. This area is known for its waters full of nursery animals, including hundreds of baby barracudas.
ABOUT THE SHARKS: Twenty-five species of sharks are found in the waters around Florida. The most commonly tagged sharks are nurse, black-tipped, bonnethead, and, occasionally, great hammerhead, tiger, bull, and Caribbean sharks. The data gathered from tagging is used in population monitoring research. There is no guarantee of the number of sharks we may catch, but the crew usually averages three sharks per outing.
Our shark tagging leader is Dr. David Shiffman, a marine conservation biologist at Arizona State University. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, National Geographic, and Scientific American, and he writes a monthly column in Scuba Diving Magazine. Dr. Shiffman is the author of the book, Why Sharks Matter: A Deep Dive with the World’s Most Misunderstood Predator. In the book, Shiffman explains that sharks are among the most fascinating, ecologically important, threatened, and misunderstood animals on Earth. Their role as predators has earned them a reputation as a major threat to humans. But the truth is that sharks are in danger from us.
The minimum number of participants is 10 to make this trip a go. If less than 10 register, we will need to cancel and all fees will be fully refunded.
A portion of our tour fees paid to The Field School directly subsidizes on-the-sea experiences for Miami-area high schoolers, helping to inspire the next generation of marine scientists.
Accommodations: We have secured a rate of $160/night at Tru by Hilton West Brickell. Book by September 9 to lock in this rate. The booking link will be available in your confirmation email after registration. This hotel is located 3 miles from our boat charter for shark tagging; the snorkeling location is approximately 52 minutes and 41 miles away; and our NOAA tour is 11 min and 4.2 miles away. You’re welcome to stay anywhere you like; however, all group meetups and shared transportation will begin at this hotel.
Transportation, food, and all other expenses are the participant’s responsibility. The registration fee covers the charter boat and crew for shark tagging, the NOAA tour, the snorkeling charter, and transportation to and from the hotel to the marina on Saturday. We can coordinate between participants to share car rentals or explore other transportation options to NOAA and the Biscayne Bay snorkel.
Due to the costs and nature of this trip, refunds are available through September 12, minus a 5% cancellation fee. After September 13, cancellations are not refundable.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.
