COASTSPAN

 The Cooperative Atlantic States Shark Pupping and Nursery Ground Survey began in 1998. The purpose of the study is to determine abundance estimates for immature sharks that use Georgia’s estuaries for their first years of life, as well as determine life history characteristics of common species, and study migratory patterns via conventional tagging methods. The survey has been conducted by three different entities: Savannah State University (1998-1999); University of Georgia, Marine Extension Service (2000-2006); Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division (2006-present). Current sampling activities occur in St. Simons and St. Andrew sounds from April through the end of September. A short (1000 ft.), hand-retrieved longline with 50 removable droplines is deployed from small boats at 10 fixed stations (5 per sound); each station is visited twice per month. Droplines are made of 1m sections of 200 lb. monofilament attached to a longline snap and a 12/0 circle hook with no offset and a depressed barb. The line is anchored to bottom via two Danforth anchors (one on each end). Soak time is 30 minutes and squid is used for bait. To date, eleven species have been captured; four of which are common (Atlantic sharpnose shark, bonnethead, blacktip shark, sandbar shark).