Abstract

Distribution and Environmental Preferences of Apex Predatory Sharks
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Hannah Calich

Great hammerhead, tiger, and bull sharks are either threatened with extinction or vulnerable to exploitation due to interactions with commercial fisheries. ArcGIS was used to analyze data from over 100 satellite-tagged sharks in the Atlantic Ocean. Distribution patterns were identified and correlated with environmental data. Areas and times where these sharks overlapped with high regional fishing intensity were identified to help wildlife managers make effective conservation strategies.