No apparent negative tagging effects after 13 years at liberty for lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris implanted with acoustic transmitter

J Fish Biol. 2019 Jan;94(1):173-177. doi: 10.1111/jfb.13856. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Abstract

An intact and uncompromised internal acoustic transmitter was non-lethally recovered from a lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris, after 13 years at liberty. The shark, first tagged at an estimated age of 2 years old near South Bimini, Bahamas in 2004, was recaptured in 2017 with a total length of 264 cm. The tagged shark displayed typical growth rate, pregnancy, natal homing and pupping behaviour of other individuals in this population. This observation provides important evidence regarding the effects from long-term retention of implanted acoustic transmitters in a carcharhinid shark.

Keywords: Negaprion brevirostris; acoustic telemetry; internal transmitter; tag retention.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bahamas
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
  • Freedom
  • Sharks / physiology*
  • Sharks / surgery
  • Telemetry / adverse effects*
  • Time Factors