North Carolina group launches effort to study stranded sharks
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Shark Conservancy is launching the state’s first ever Shark Stranding Network.
Earlier this week, an adult female Sand Tiger Shark washed up on shore in the south Topsail area.
State protocols for handling shark standings are limited, so the conservancy is launching the response initiative, similar to ones for turtles and other marine mammals.
The conservancy’s Taylor Evans explains what happens after it’s notified of a stranding.
“We have someone, one from our team, go out and look at the shark, depending upon the species or the area of interest from our researchers,” Evans said. “We will either request that the shark be buried, or we will take it back to a facility to necropsy it.”
A necropsy is an animal version of an autopsy.
Researchers will record details such as species, size, sex, location, and environmental conditions of the dead animals and the information will be put in a database.
The conservancy said by combining community observations with scientific analysis, the network transforms each report into valuable data that supports shark conservation, ecosystem research, and a better understanding of North Carolina’s marine environment.
To report a stranded shark, beach-goers can call the North Carolina Shark Conservancy hotline at (252) 216-2810.
