Early Monday morning Shark & Flats week were off after a busy camp exploring the mangrove flats ecosystem in South Eleuthera.
The flats week students not only worked alongside our Flats researchers all through the week, but also had the opportunity to go bonefishing with some of the local fishermen of Rock Sound and Savannah Sound. In doing this, they got a taste of some of the local ideas in conservation of the mangrove flats ecosystem and protection of bonefish as well as other species that spend all or just part of their life there.
The Shark week students spent a good amount of time in the field setting longlines and drum lines for juvenile lemon sharks and their predators. They were very successful in tagging and recapture of juvenile lemons, having caught 7 in one day at a nearby creek. They were also able to use their findings to relate to other juvenile lemon shark studies from the Bimini Biological Field Station.
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On the last day, both shark and flats presented to their fellow campers and researchers on some of the information they had learned and collected through the week. The day concluded with a trip down island to check out the Rock Sound caverns, Ocean Hole Park, the giant banyan trees, ending at a Bahamian style dinner at Sharil’s in Deep Creek. The week was a busy one full of fun, friendships, and most importantly learning about the mangrove flats ecosystem!