As part of our research of movement patterns of large sharks in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, we have now initiated a shark and ulua (large jacks) acoustic monitoring program at Midway Island. Midway is considered one of the northern most islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago and is the site of the famous WWII battle. A few years ago, the atoll was turned over the US Fish and Wildlife Service by the US military and incorporated into the National Marine Sanctuary program.

Last summer (2001) we spent 2 weeks at Midway tagging Galapagos sharks (Carcharhinus galapagensis) and tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier).
 

We are looking at their movement patterns around the atoll by placing acoustic monitors at key locations. Next summer we will also tag large jacks (ulua) to examine their movement patterns around the atoll.

This project is supported by National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Performance Diver, and Keene Engineering.