PIT 2010 Summary

2010 PIT Crew

The 16th annual PIT census was again a success, with a combined total of 185 sharks from the North Sound and Sharkland nurseries. Historically, we have caught more sharks in the Sharkland nursery than in the North Sound nursery, and 2010 was no exception.

The Sharkland catch this year was both the lowest number of neonate captures and total captures since 2006. However, the number of recaptured sharks was the highest in the last five years.

North Sound catch statistics have proven to be more enigmatic, with patterns in abundance and survival harder to elucidate. Perhaps destabilization of the nursery due to ongoing dredging and mangrove loss are behind the seemingly large fluctuations in neonates, recaptures and total catches within the North Sound nursery. The total 2010 catch in the North Sound was the second lowest in recent years, including a fairly low number of neonates. Recaptures were higher than in the two previous years, though the elevated value may be due to last year’s large cohort.