- DISCOVERY Vessels Orca, Chelsea Rae, and RedundanSea
Ocean First Institute Shark Tagging Expedition
- December 10, 2025
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Project Overview
Ocean First Institute (OFI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the conservation of sharks and ocean life through scientific research, education, and community engagement. Their work in South Florida focuses on understanding the distribution, behavior, and overall health of shark species through field-based tagging and sampling. By gathering measurements, biological samples, and tag data from individual sharks, OFI builds long-term datasets that help identify important habitats, monitor population trends, and support science-based conservation strategies. All research is conducted under the required state and federal permits.
Application
The data collected during OFI’s tagging work provide insight into shark movement, habitat use, and individual health along Florida’s southeast coast. Tags allow researchers to track where sharks travel and how they rely on specific areas, while measurements and biological samples offer information about growth, condition, diet, and overall well-being.
These findings contribute to long-term monitoring programs and help guide management decisions for species that play important ecological roles in maintaining balanced marine ecosystems. For sharks such as the great hammerhead, which faces significant conservation challenges, these data are especially valuable. By connecting scientific research with community partners and the public, projects like this help shift the narrative from fear to understanding and support the broader effort to protect shark populations and the habitats they depend on.
Expedition Summary
On December 10th, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society supported researchers from Ocean First Institute in a shark tagging expedition aboard three DISCOVERY Vessels: Orca, Chelsea Rae, and RedundanSea. The team staged and departed from Pier Sixty-Six Marina, whose support made it easy for all vessels and researchers to rendezvous, load gear, and quickly access the offshore tagging sites through the Port Everglades Inlet.
A meaningful element of this outing was the use of Orca, the modern replica of the vessel featured in Jaws. Once tied to a narrative of fear and misunderstanding, the Orca now serves as a platform for research, education, and conservation through SeaKeepers DISCOVERY Program. Its presence highlighted the ongoing shift from myth to science and the collective effort to reshape public perception of sharks.
Field conditions allowed the teams to deploy lines shortly after arriving on site. Throughout the day, OFI scientists and the DISCOVERY Yacht crews worked together to safely capture, tag, measure, and release five sharks in total: three nurse sharks, one tiger shark, and one great hammerhead – a species listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Each shark was processed following OFI’s standardized protocol, including length and girth measurements, tagging, and the collection of biological samples, before being released in stable condition.
SeaKeepers extends sincere thanks to All Points Boats, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, and Captain Michael Sterling of the Orca for helping make this collaborative expedition possible and seamless.
Location
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Duration of Project
Ocean First Institute, founded in 2015, initiated its Fort Lauderdale shark tagging program with vessel support from SeaKeepers in December 2024. This research effort is ongoing.
Leadership
Research Team
Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza, Ocean First Institute
Dr. Chris Malinowski, Ocean First Institute
Ethan Dewald, Ocean First Institute
Morgan Cleary, Ocean First Institute
Aubri Keith, Underwater Photography, SeaKeepers
Rosie Moore, Underwater Videography, SeaKeepers
Photo Gallery
