Hawaii Tiger Sharks Oahu

Tiger Shark and Reef Fish Research.

Pioneering research being carried out by Dr Carl Meyer from the Hawai'i Institute of Marine biology into the migration and feeding behaviour of Tiger Sharks and the impact of human intervention on the eco systems on the offshore reefs in and around the waters of the Hawaiin Islands.  As a way of monitoring the sharks, trackers were placed on them which then relayed data to base monitors positioned on the sea bed. The process involved catching sharks with long lines, placing the trackers and then releasing. Divers would then swim down to collect the monitors and retrieve the information of the sharks movements. As the data gathering became more extensive, the marine biologists could brief the Hawaiin authorities and leading global experts in this field regards what they have found in response to a series of shark attacks on the North shore of Oahu and west coast of Maui during this period. Reseach techniques have changed over the years with the use of GPS and  satellite tracking. Reef fish tagging was carried out on night dives in and around the waters of Waikiki where size and species were recorded with a tag placed in the dorsal fin. The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology is based on Coconut Island.