For twenty years Seattle Aquarium biologists have been informally monitoring Sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) sightings by recreational SCUBA divers and fishers in Puget Sound.
Since 2003 the aquarium has been conducting formal research studies of sixgill sharks in partnership with NOAA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. The aquarium’s sixgill research involves integrated programs using population genetics and visual marker tagging to identify individuals, relatedness, population boundaries, relative abundance and movement patterns of sixgill sharks in Puget Sound. Since 2004 the aquarium has been hosting international meetings of cowshark biologists every other year to share knowledge about these little known species. The international and collaborative flavor of these meetings provide the conference attendees a better understanding of the interest in sharks worldwide and the challenges of studying these elusive animals.
Note: Sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) biology will also be covered by David Ebert of Moss Landing Labs and Vallorie Hodges, DSO at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
See details below for registration and directions:
http://www.seattleaquarium.org/page.aspx?pid=1199
