Bimini Biological Field Station - Shark Lab

Bimini Biological Field Station - Shark Lab The BBFSF is a world-famous facility founded by shark biologist Dr. Samuel H. Gruber in 1990.

Publication spotlight!This paper by Colin A. Simpfendorfer et al (2023) shed light on the declining numbers of reef shar...
29/07/2026

Publication spotlight!

This paper by Colin A. Simpfendorfer et al (2023) shed light on the declining numbers of reef sharks and rays globally and urged for necessary conservation action. With data from over 22,000 Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) deployed across 391 coral reefs, researchers with the Global Finprint project looked at impacts of human activity on Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, yellow stingrays, and southern stingrays in the Atlantic and grey reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, blue spotted maskrays, and blue spotted ribbontail rays in the Indo-Pacific.

Ultimately, they found that the state of these coral reef shark and ray populations was undoubtedly concerning compared to their historical numbers. The average depletion of the five key resident sharks on individual reefs was 62.8% and individual shark species were not observed at 34 to 47% of the surveyed reefs. 

At the species level, the highest declines in rays were seen in yellow stingrays, at 78.9% depleted, and in blacktip reef sharks, at 46.9% depleted. Overall, the estimated loss of the reef shark species in this study met the IUCN Red List criteria for Endangered.

The authors noted how coral reef ecosystems in regions with strong regulations such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and shark sanctuaries had healthier populations of coral reef sharks and rays. This highlights the value in spreading awareness for marine conservation through research and education efforts so that support for protected areas can be fostered. It is crucial to the future of these coral reef elasmobranch species that we advocate for and establish sustainable fishing regulations, MPAs, and shark sanctuaries like we have right here in the Bahamas!

Head to our website to read more publications that the lab has been involved in under our Research tab! 🦈

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Infographic: erin
📸: Wyatt Albert
✍️: erin

Shark workups!Once a shark is safely secured alongside the boat, our team gets to work collecting data that helps us bet...
24/07/2026

Shark workups!

Once a shark is safely secured alongside the boat, our team gets to work collecting data that helps us better understand and protect these incredible animals!

Top side!
First, we take a series of body measurements and collect a small fin clip and a muscle tissue sample for genetic and other research analyses.

Depending on the goals of the project, we may attach a satellite tag to the dorsal fin to track the shark’s movements over time. We also apply a small external dart tag with a unique identification number and our contact information, making it possible for others to identify the shark if it is caught again. Sometimes we may insert a tiny PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag beneath the skin near the dorsal fin (similar to the microchip your dog or cat might have)!

Bottom side!
Then, the shark may be turned upside down, where it will enter a state called tonic immobility. We sometimes implant an acoustic transmitter that allows us to monitor the shark’s movements whenever it passes our underwater acoustic receivers. (See our July 13th post to learn about these). If the shark is a mature female, a quick ultrasound will be performed to determine whether she is pregnant.

While it may seem like a lot, this whole process can take us just 5 minutes! Thanks to the teamwork of our crew we work like a pit crew and are able to collect vital data quickly and safely before releasing these sharks back into the wild.

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📸: Wyatt Albert
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Wondering how else you can get involved with the lab? 🦈Sponsor a Tag: Get involved with our research by sponsoring an ac...
22/07/2026

Wondering how else you can get involved with the lab?

🦈Sponsor a Tag: Get involved with our research by sponsoring an acoustic or satellite tag! Each sponsorship will receive an Adoption Certificate with your shark’s capture data,name and photo (when possible) and a fact file with information about the species you’ve adopted. Depending on the type of tag, you will receive updates on your shark’s movements and the project. Each sponsorship helps to support our research and create thorough datasets for ongoing projects!
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🦈Name a Shark: With a donation that allows you to name and symbolically adopt an individual from our tag database! Depending on the species caught during our research trips, you can choose from a variety of shark species to name! Name your shark at https://www.biminisharklab.com/sharkadoptions

🦈Request a Speaker: With our Request a Speaker program, you have the opportunity to chat virtually with our global team of Elasmobranch Ambassadors in your classroom, club, or conference! We are always happy to personalize presentations depending on your preferences and interests! Fill out this form to request a speaker, and feel free to email outreach@biminisharklab with any questions!

🦈Attending scientific conferences / outreach events: Throughout the year our team presents and attends various outreach events around the world! Your attendance and support at these events is always appreciated, and can give you an opportunity to meet the crew, hear about our research in person, and ask questions. We love meeting you!

We greatly appreciate all of your continued support! Your donations and participation in courses, internships and events has made our mission of research, education and conservation possible. Thank you!

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📷: I S S Y
✍️:

Which Bimini shark are you?🦈Think like a shark! Swipe through the quiz, keep track of your A’s, B’s, and C’s, and discov...
20/07/2026

Which Bimini shark are you?🦈

Think like a shark! Swipe through the quiz, keep track of your A’s, B’s, and C’s, and discover which of Bimini’s incredible shark species matches your choices.

Along the way, you’ll learn how different sharks use their habitats, find food, and survive in the waters around Bimini.

💬 What shark did you get? Tell us in the comments below and tag a friend to see what they get!
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✍️: Danni Rouget

This past week our crew headed to New Orleans, USA to attend the annual meeting of The American Elasmobranch Society. Th...
18/07/2026

This past week our crew headed to New Orleans, USA to attend the annual meeting of The American Elasmobranch Society. This weekend consists of talks, symposiums, and meetings that pertain to elasmobranchs.

A few of our crew gave presentations on our past and current research.

Baylie gave an award winning presentation on her masters thesis on population genetics of Nurse Sharks in The Western North Atlantic. Baylies presentation was recognized as the best student presentation where she was awarded the Samuel H. Gruber Award who also founded the Bimini Shark Lab.

Alina Hussey and itwasallydraime also presented a poster highlighting the opportunities for early career scientists at the Shark Lab.

Matt Smukall gave a presentation during the Sawfish Symposium about our research in the Florida Keys and how the spinning fish event of 2024 in the Florida Keys has affected the sharks in the area.

Wyatt Albert also gave a presentation highlighting The movements of Blacktip sharks in and out of the Florida Keys National Marine sanctuary and how these are .

Félicie Dhellemmes ended our presentations by giving a presentation highlighting her PhD work with juvenile lemon shark behavior and space use in the Lagoons of Bimini.

It was an amazing week catching up with all of the Shark Lab alumni and friends as well as learning about all of the amazing research going on in other areas of the world. Thank you to AES Students and AES for putting on such a great conference!

We want to thank Ocean Mokum Foundation / Tea Zegarac for their continued support for both the research we presented on and the opportunity to attend events such as this one!

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15/07/2026

Life in a lemon shark nursery 🍋

Did you know a baby lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) can spend the first 6–7 years of its life in the same mangrove system? And, female lemon sharks often return to the very same mangroves where they were born to give birth to their own pups. 

But, what makes mangroves such a perfect nursery?

First, the dense network of roots makes it difficult for large predators like bull sharks, tiger sharks, and even adult lemon sharks to navigate, giving tiny pups a much better chance of survival. These calm, shallow waters are also a perfect place for these growing sharks to learn foraging and hunting behaviors, as the mangroves are rich with crustaceans, small fish and other prey!   

Healthy mangroves mean healthy oceans. Without these coastal forests, marine species like the lemon sharks would lose the safe nursery habitats they depend on during their most vulnerable years.

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📸: Wyatt Albert
✍️:

14/07/2026

Happy Shark Awareness Day!

Many shark species around the world are under severe pressure from both targeted fishing and bycatch. In The Bahamas, sharks are protected by the Bahamas Shark Sanctuary, which prohibits all shark fishing within Bahamian waters, but that protection ends at its borders. Many species of sharks make international migrations and don’t know when they’ve crossed into waters where those protections are no longer in place.

Research and education are the most powerful tools we have for conservation. Our work helps us better understand how sharks use the ocean, identify the habitats that are important to them, and provide information that can help inform conservation efforts. Just as importantly, is sharing our work and knowledge with the public to show how important and remarkable sharks truly are.

Comment your favourite shark below!

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📸: Wyatt Albert
✍️: I S S Y & Tim Furst

🦈 How do scientists track a shark they can’t see?One method is acoustic telemetry, a technique that uses sound to track...
13/07/2026

🦈 How do scientists track a shark they can’t see?

One method is acoustic telemetry, a technique that uses sound to track sharks beneath the surface.

Scientists carefully implant a small acoustic transmitter (or tag) inside the shark. Each tag has its own unique ID and can continue transmitting for up to 10 years. Every few minutes, the tag emits an ultrasonic “ping”.

These pings are detected by underwater receivers, which are either anchored to the seafloor or attached to buoys. Depending on water conditions, each receiver can detect a tagged shark from approximately 250–500 metres away, recording the shark’s unique ID, along with the date and time it passed.

The receivers store this information until researchers retrieve them, often by freediving or SCUBA every six months, to download the data.

So why is this important? By tracking their movements, scientists can discover where sharks migrate, where they go to mate, and which habitats are important for giving birth and raising their pups. This information helps identify critical habitats, improve conservation strategies, and help protect shark populations for generations to come

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✍️: Danni Rouget

South Bimini cleanup! On July 4th the shark lab crew teamed up with some of the Bimini locals to clean up South Bimini’s...
09/07/2026

South Bimini cleanup!

On July 4th the shark lab crew teamed up with some of the Bimini locals to clean up South Bimini’s roads! It was a really successful morning, the roads are looking so much better and every piece of litter collected is one less piece of plastic that could end up in the ocean!

Beach and roadside cleanups are so important in helping prevent harmful plastic and waste products from entering the marine ecosystem. Every cleanup makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and helped keep our coastline clean!

Thank you also to our partners at Rock the Ocean Rock The Ocean 🌊 for their ongoing support of the lab and for the wonderful beach cleanup work they are doing! Head to Rock The Ocean 🌊 to see all of the cleanup events they have been getting up to, to see some of their future events being advertised and learn how to get involved!

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📸: Wyatt Albert
✍️: I S S Y

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