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 Editorials | Environmental | April 2007 
Monterey Aquarium's Former Great White Shark Sends Signal from Cabo
 John King - sfchronicle.com
| | Great White - Guadalupe Island, Baja Mexico (Cornforth Images) |
The great white shark that spent four months in captivity in Monterey Bay Aquarium was in warmer climes last weekend: Cabo San Lucas.
The electronic tag that had been attached to the shark before its release Jan. 16 floated to the surface in waters near the southern tip of Baja California, aquarium officials announced Monday. The tag was designed to pop free after 90 days, so it is assumed the young male is hale and hearty.
Now, while the shark continues on his way, researchers will use a satellite to pick up signals being transmitted from the tag before the battery dies.
Ideally, they'll also be able to find the microphone-size tag.
"It's a big ocean and it's a small tag, about the size of a handheld microphone," said Ken Peterson, the aquarium's communication director. Using boats or planes to conduct the search "would be a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but at least the needle is transmitting radio signals."
The data from the signals include the route taken by the shark, the aquatic temperatures through which he passed, and the depths through which he moved. Such information helps scientists understand how sharks live - presenting "a picture of how the shark uses the ocean," in Peterson's words.
The young male was captured in August, then housed in a million-gallon tank at Monterey Bay Aquarium. It grew to 6 feet 5 inches long and 171 pounds before aquarium workers let it go.
This was the second great white to be exhibited by the aquarium and then released. The first one also had a tag, but it was timed for release after 30 days.
Email John King at jking@sfchronicle.com |
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