In March 2004, Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab, in collaboration with ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research, began a two-year interdisciplinary study of the life history, behaviour, and ecology of the Blacktip Reef Shark (Caracharhinus melanopterus) in North Male’ Atoll.
Growing to a length of 1.6 m, the Blacktip Reef is the most abundant shark in the shallow waters around Vabbinfaru, home of Banyan Tree Maldives Resort and Spa. Despite its abundance, many aspects of its basic natural history remain poorly or incompletely known. The collaborative study will examine:
The study will be conducted in two phases, 1) monitoring growth, maturation, and social behaviour of a small captive population maintained on a standardised diet in a specially-designed and constructed holding pen and, 2) monitoring age and sex differences in movement patterns and estimating total population size based on free-ranging Blacktips, each marked with a unique, specially designed and built visual identification tags (consisting of simple geometric shapes of plastic on a streamer).
Guests of Banyan Tree Maldives Resort and Spa are invited to assist our research by reporting the time, location, depth, and behaviour of any tagged Blacktip Reef Shark seen around Vabbinfaru. Over time, accumulated reports will provide us a detailed picture of where members of both sexes at various growth stages utilize the resources off Vabbinfaru. This information will provide base-line information needed to manage Blacktip Reef Sharks as a living resource in North Male’ Atoll. |
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A shiver of sharks! |
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A Blackfin Reef Shark in its element |
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A well camouflaged shark |
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Playing among the pilings |
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