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PSRF Shark Image Library

These images are for your personal enjoyment ONLY, and may not be reproduced or used in any other manner without permission from PSRF.

Blue & Mako | Misc. | White | Basking | Benthic | Stranded

Blue & Mako Sharks
The face of a predator, the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) reaches lengths of nearly 14 feet long and 1500 pounds. it represents the cutting edge of selachian predatory development. the mako preys upon tunas swordfish and other sharks. A close relative of the white shark (C. carcharias) and the salmon shark (L.ditropis), the mako is a warm blooded endo-therm capable of tremendous bursts of speed and power. Shortfin makos have a more obscure relative called longfin or big-eye mako (Isurus paucus) that dwells in the deep waters of the tropics.
Fritz-Cope/PSRF Aug 1997

12K
Copyright PSRF
A large blue shark surfaces to consume an injured mackerel. Blue sharks have large well-developed eyes that are suitable for surface or deep-water situations. Blue sharks can reach a maximum length of nearly 13 feet long and several hundred pounds, although a 9 footer is considered a large adult. Blue sharks are opportunistic predators that will not hesitate to scavenge off of dead whales or harry an injured porpoise. Typically blue sharks are strictly piscivores (fish eating) feeding on mackerels, squid and other schooling fishes.
Fritz-Cope/PSRF July 1997.

37K
Copyright PSRF


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The blue shark, Prionace glauca represents the archetypal pelagic shark. Built for long-range gliding the blue shark is perfectly suited for crossing vast ocean basins.
Austin/PSRF

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Copyright PSRF
Blue sharks are very bold and determined foragers with keen eyesight as well as a well-developed sense of smell.
Fritz-Cope/PSRF

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Copyright PSRF
The blue shark's snout is packed with sensitive electrical field detection equipment that enables it to track and zero in on a prey item. Blue sharks are known to be able to exert bursts of speed although they are designed to cruise over great distances with minimum energy expenditure. Blue sharks hunt everything from squid to tuna, they are opportunistic foragers that will not hesitate to consume densely packed krill, scavenge off of a dead whale or pursue an injured porpoise. They have been known to consume dead and injured sailors and pilots during air/sea war disasters.
Fritz-Cope/PSRF

10K
Copyright PSRF
A blue shark biting on a piece salmon is pulled to the side of the boat for measuring and tagging.
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Ventral view of Blue Shark.
50K
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Removal of hook from tagged blue shark.
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Copyright PSRF
PSRF Director Sean Van Sommeran executes a carefully timed tail grab on a small blue shark. The blue shark was lured close to the boat with a piece of salmon on a monofiliment. As the shark comes within reach, it can be carefully grabbed and/or scoop netted. The shark can then be brought briefly aboard to be measured, sampled, tagged and released. Grabbing a blue shark should be done with extreme caution, they are able to flex and twist all the way around and bite their own tail or an offending hand.
Atre/PSRF

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Copyright PSRF
PSRF staff technician Tushar Atre restrains a small blue shark while demonstrating its indigo blue dorsal surface for which the shark is named. The shark is kept out of the water for no longer than 3 minutes as it is measured, gendered, tagged and released. These sharks are often sampled for blood and tissues.
Van Sommeran/PSRF July 1997

17K
Copyright PSRF
A drugged blue shark is lifted from the "Pelagic 1" holding basin, prior to the shark's revival and release. MS 222 is a commonly used tranquilizer, which renders the sharks temporarily groggy and limp. The blue sharks are collected with a scoop-net and set into a basin of seawater laced with MS 222. After a few minutes, the shark becomes limber and can be quickly measured, blood sampled and tagged. The shark is then held over the side of the boat until it revives and swims away.
Casper/PSRF summer 1995

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Copyright PSRF
PSRF Director Sean Van Sommeran puts a blue shark into tonic immobility by rolling it over on its back. By rolling a small shark over and suspending them in an inverted position the shark will sometimes go into what is called tonic immobility where it can be more easily measured and sampled. This state of immobilization should never be taken for granted and does not always last very long.
Atre/PSRF

14K
Copyright PSRF
Dr Dave Casper draws a blood sample from a blue shark from the deck of the "Pelagic II", a 23-foot Wilson Custom Hull, and sister ship to "Pelagic I". The blood samples collected are archived for analysis of pollutant loads. PCB's, Metals, Trace organo-chlorines and other pollutants are carried in the sharks blood. The samples collected from open ocean blue sharks can be compared with samples taken from benthic sharks and estuarine sharks to analyze differences in the levels of contamination.
Van Sommeran/PSRF July 1997.

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Copyright PSRF
PSRF staff photographer Callaghan Fritz-Cope releases a small blue shark after it has been tagged and sampled. With sharks less than 5 feet long a scoop net or a carefully timed tail grab is used to collect and temporarily restrain them for sampling. This method is much less likely to injure the shark than hook and line capture.
Van Sommeran/PSRF

13K
Copyright PSRF


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