Bimini Biological Field Station - Shark Lab

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Bimini Biological Field Station - Shark Lab

The BBFSF is a world-famous facility founded by shark biologist Dr. Samuel H. Gruber in 1990.

28/10/2026

New important shark and ray area!

The Marquesas Keys are an important nursery and pupping ground for vulnerable Lemon Sharks. Each year, an estimated 75–100 young Lemon Sharks use these shallow mangrove habitats during their early life stages.

The dense network of red mangrove roots provides protection from larger predators, while also supporting an abundance of small fish and crustaceans that young sharks rely on as they grow and develop their hunting skills.

Protecting these nursery habitats is essential for supporting the next generation of Lemon Sharks and maintaining healthy populations.

Swipe through to learn more about the Marquesas Keys and why this area is important for Lemon Sharks.
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Infographic: brooke
📸: Wyatt Albert
✍️: brooke

26/10/2026

Last week we had students from Florida Southern University join us for a week at the station!

We had a week packed full of shark lectures, workup demonstrations and heading out in the field to see lemon sharks in the mangroves, southern stingrays and blacktips at Honeymoon and Bull sharks up on the north island!

Despite some windy weather we had a fantastic week and it was great to have you all here with us! We hope to welcome you back next year!

Florida Southern College
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📸: Wyatt Albert

23/10/2026

Bahamas to North Carolina ISRA

Tiger Sharks make long seasonal migrations through the western Atlantic, moving north along the US East Coast in spring and summer before returning to warmer waters in The Bahamas and Florida in autumn and winter. These movements occur across both sexes and life stages, highlighting the importance of this corridor to Tiger Sharks throughout their lives.

This corridor links key habitats along their route. In Bimini, Tiger Sharks show high residency and multi-year site fidelity, with the area serving as a pupping ground. Further north, increasing productivity and prey availability provide important feeding opportunities during the spring and summer.

The timing and extent of these migrations closely follow seasonal changes in ocean temperature, and shifts in migration patterns have been linked to ocean warming. As environmental conditions continue to change, protecting the habitats and movement corridors that connect them will be important for supporting Tiger Sharks throughout their range.

Swipe through to learn more about this important movement corridor.
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Infographic: brooke
📸: Baylie , Wyatt Albert
✍️: brooke

20/10/2026

The Bimini Islands have been designated as a NEW Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) for Lemon Sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) ! This ISRA meets criterion A - Vulnerability and C1 - Reproductive Areas, which designate areas important to vulnerable species and areas important to mating, birthing, laying eggs, or providing refuge or other advantages to young.

The Bimini Islands are a well-documented Lemon Shark pupping ground. Individual mature female lemon sharks have been documented to use the same area they were born in to give birth to their pups, a behavior known as natal philopatry, across multiple years and reproductive cycles.

The Bimini Islands also serve as an important nursery ground for neonate and juvenile lemon sharks. Young individuals rely on Bimini’s mangrove forests and seagrass beds for refuge from larger predators during the early years of their lives.

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Infographic: Tim Furst
📸: Wyatt Albert
✍️: Tim Furst

19/10/2026

Mangrove patrol

In Bimini, Redfin Needlefish (Strongylura notata) can often be found roaming the mangrove sand flats.

When disturbed or attracted to artificial light at night, they can display impressive bursts of speed, sometimes launching themselves completely out of the water.

Redfin Needlefish are often mistaken for their much larger relative, the Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus). Both species have similar long, slender bodies, but Houndfish grow to considerably larger sizes than Redfin Needlefish.

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📸: BIMINI SHARK LAB
✍️: I S S Y

18/10/2026

This weeks visitor checking out our BRUV setup!

This green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris), a species that typically resides in rocky caves or crevices, ventured out from underneath a rock to check out what the bait cage had to offer.

Green moray eels are a common sight throughout the Caribbean, including the Florida Keys where this survey was conducted, and Bimini! They are easily identified by their bright greenish to yellow coloration across their entire body. Green morays are truly a dark grey-brown, but they get this green color from a yellow mucus that coats their body and defends against parasites, disease, and sharp rocks.

Thank you to Ocean Mokum Foundation / Tea Zegarac for their continued support on this project!

Research activities occurred within the FKNMS and under permit FKNMS-2025-266 issued to Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation.
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📸: BIMINI SHARK LAB , Cover photo: Wyatt Albert
✍️: Tim Furst & Erin Hurley

15/10/2026

Ever wanted to go beyond simply seeing sharks and actually learn about the science behind them?

Join us at the Bimini Biological Field Station for a unique 6-night / 7-day Introduction to Shark Science field course, designed for members of the public who want an immersive experience in shark science, conservation, and the incredible marine ecosystems of Bimini.

Program dates: June 12-18, 2027,📍Bimini, The Bahamas, 14 participant spaces available

We are aware that many members of the public have a deep interest in shark science and conservation but don’t often have opportunities to explore it outside of academic institutions. We want to bridge this gap by creating opportunities for anyone to learn more about the marine environment, shark science, and conservation.

This course combines classroom learning from experts actively working in the field of shark science, including Dr. Matthew Smukall and Shark Lab station crew, with hands-on field experiences, exploring:
Mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, shallow sandy flats, rocky shores & coral reefs, diverse marine life, including sharks and rays.

You’ll learn about the biology, evolution, ecology, and conservation of sharks, while discovering the research conducted by the Shark Lab over more than 35 years.

Please note: This is not a typical diving or snorkeling holiday. Participants will not handle sharks. No previous diving or snorkeling experience is required, but participants must be comfortable in open-water conditions.

Applications open October 15 and close November 15.

For more information about this course, visit our website at: www.biminisharklab.com/courses
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15/10/2026

Join us on a Research excursion in the Florida Keys! Interested in learning more about shark science and want to be involved in some real shark research? We’re excited to offer an opportunity for members of the public to join the Shark Lab team during one of our research trips to experience field research firsthand!

Program dates: April 11-17, 2027 ,📍Lower Florida Keys, 4 participant spaces available

What to expect:
The 6-night excursion will be based in the Lower Florida Keys, where you will be involved in every aspect of our research trip, living and working alongside our team. You won’t just be observing, you’ll be part of the research team. From the moment you arrive, you’ll receive hands-on training in our research methods, learn about our current projects, and work alongside our scientists in the field.

You will assist with all aspects of field research from packing and organising gear, in-field data and sample collection, to end-of-day sample processing and boat break-down and cleaning.

Activities on the water may include: Setting scientific longline surveys or block rigs, acoustic receiver collection, maintenance and downloads, baited remote underwater video surveys BRUVs, and shark workups including taking biological samples (fin, muscle, blood), measurements and tagging.

Most importantly, you’ll be contributing to long-term shark research and marine conservation efforts while gaining an inside look at what it takes to conduct research in the field!

For more information and to apply, visit our website at www.biminisharklab.com . Spaces are limited and we will be reviewing applications as they come in.

Applications open October 15, and close November 15 2027.
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14/10/2026

Our crew cleaning up South Bimini Beaches!

Some recent storms brought trash with them to our beaches, so this week our crew headed out on the sand to collect as much trash from the beach and up into the tree line as we could.

It was a really successful clean up, 12 bags of trash alongside larger items were collected!

If you want to find ways to get involved in similar beach cleanups or simply ways to help out, head to Rock The Ocean 🌊 to find out more!

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📸: I S S Y , Wyatt Albert

13/10/2026

New Important Shark and Ray Area!

Honeymoon Harbour, a small island just 14km south of the Bimini Islands, has been designated as a new Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) for Southern Stingrays (Hypanus americanus) ! This ISRA falls under criterion C1 - Reproductive Areas, which designates areas important to mating, birthing, laying eggs, or providing refuge and other advantages to young.

Findings show mature female southern stingrays and small juveniles are the most common individuals found in the area, with many of the mature females being observed to be visibly pregnant or exhibiting fresh mating scars. It is suggested that the shallow, sandy habitat provides refuge for pregnant females and juveniles from larger bodied predators.

Honeymoon Harbour is also frequently used by other elasmobranch species including the vulnerable Atlantic Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), and the endangered Blacknose Shark (Carcharhinus acronotus).
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📸: Tim Furst , Wyatt Albert
✍️: Tim Furst

Address

Colombo

Website

http://www.biminisharklab.com/

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