Last summer, it was observed 149 times. So far this summer, the bridge has been observed around 50 times, says Claudia Junge, researcher at the Institute of Marine Research (HI). The shark can grow up to eleven meters long and eats only plankton. Claudia Junge is a researcher at the Institute of Marine Research and project manager for Sharks on the Move. Photo: Private Researchers know very little about how the world’s second largest shark moves in Norwegian waters. For example, we do not know how long it goes pregnant. Or how big a newborn bride is. The Institute of Marine Research is now working to map and find information. With observations from the public, they want to find out where and when the bride is found along the Norwegian coast. Then they can try to understand where the bride is at what time to see where the plankton is. – Based on the observations we have, they come here in the beginning or middle of May and they are observed a little further south in Frøya and hitra area. It is more often observed in the Lofoten area at the turn of the month June / July and gradually it tends to be observed in Finnmark. Where it goes after the season is unclear – In general, it looks like it is going north during the season. After the season, we do not know exactly where it will go, says Junge. But now a group from HI has marked the first bridges in Norway. Keno Ferter and three other colleagues have marked three brides in Nordland to be able to track where they swim during one year. Keno Ferter in HI helped mark the brides together with colleagues Otte Bjelland, Jan Hinriksson and Antonia Klöcker. Photo: Emma Aldal Sætre There are satellite marks that log depth, temperature and light. They can be programmed to release the fish after one year and when they reach the surface the data is sent via satellite. – Based on these data, one can calculate the most probable hiking route, says Ferter. They will track the marks in a year and get all the data on what the bride has done on the hike. The hope is to find out where the shark has gone and how it behaves in Norwegian waters. If the shark wanders far away or stays local, they will then know in a year. This research project is funded by the Research Council and is called Sharks on the move. Ferter boasts of all the tips that made them find the brides. – It’s not just about finding a bride, so we came to Lofoten with low expectations. A local fisherman on Å in Moskenes told them that he had only seen one used for 1300 days at sea. With good help from tipsters, they found three brides in a few days that they got marked. In the video of the tagging, it can look like the sharks are being impaled. There is a 15 centimeter long needle that is inserted into the shark so that the mark does not fall off. – We do not think that the shark is particularly affected by it because it runs away and then it comes up again 20 meters away and eats on. We do not have to worry if it comes, Junge emphasizes. – It only eats plankton so it is not a dangerous shark for humans. Many people observe the great shark when they are out by boat. Then Junge recommends turning off the engine and lying quietly with the boat to observe it. – It comes close to the boat to find out who you are. – Is it dangerous if you swim close to land and a bride comes? – No, it’s not dangerous, but it’s a big animal. I would not recommend getting very close to the large tail fin because it moves. When a stream of water hits a bay, for example, plankton can come along, which causes the bridge to get closer to land. – We have received several observations of people sitting and eating breakfast on the porch and see a bride swimming back and forth outside where they are and eating breakfast as well.
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Researchers know little about the shark in Norway – news Nordland
