Shark Sampling “Rousing Success” At Rodeo

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. — The return of the shark category to the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, held July 14-17 on Dauphin Island, was “a rousing success,” the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said. The 15 sharks weighed in were used by marine scientists and students to help track the predators’ trends, distribution, age, growth and more. Assistant rodeo judge Dr. Marcus Drymon of Mississippi State University and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium said vertebrae were taken from the fish to determine their ages, and other samples were taken to assess overall health. Dr. Sean Powers, professor and director of the new University of South Alabama School of Marine and Environmental Sciences and head rodeo judge, added that approximately 800 samples were collected from all 33 species each day of the rodeo.