Tracking Sharks

Currently Transmitting Sharks

Satellite Tagged Tigers Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger Shark Olivia

This tiger shark is named Olivia in honor of SRC intern Olivia Eve Wigon, whose passion for the ocean and dedication to marine conservation continue to inspire our work. Olivia the tiger shark is the first shark tagged as part of a new study on the movement ecology of juvenile tiger sharks in South Florida.

Olivia grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and from a young age was a seeker of adventure, from studying at The Island School in the Bahamas to traveling across six continents and forging friendships around the world. She was an undergraduate at the University of Miami, where she pursued dual majors in Marine Affairs and Human and Social Development, bringing intellectual curiosity and compassionate purpose to her education. She was an active member of the University’s Hillel organization, connecting people and building community wherever she went.

As an SRC intern, she brought energy, talent, and natural leadership to our fieldwork, quickly becoming someone others looked to for encouragement, and brightening long fishing days with her contagious laugh and sense of fun. Olivia’s passion for sharks and marine ecosystems wasn’t simply academic. She brought dedication, joy, and enthusiasm to research expeditions, mentoring and helping others find confidence on deck and in the water. She was an avid student of the ocean, but also a remarkably determined champion of ocean conservation.

Olivia’s legacy at SRC includes not only the science she contributed to and the many people she built enduring connections with, but our profound ongoing commitment to fostering a scientific community she would be proud of–one driven by purpose and passion.

Satellite Tagged Blacktips Carcharhinus limbatus

Blacktip 34675

This pregnant female blacktip shark was tagged in Biscayne Bay on November 13, 2025. She was tagged as part of our ongoing movement and habitat-use research. This map shows her movements over the last 50 days.

This shark is available for adoption—your support helps make long-term tracking and conservation research like this possible.

Blacktip 34893

This pregnant female blacktip shark was tagged in Biscayne Bay on November 12, 2025. She was tagged as part of our ongoing movement and habitat-use research. This map shows her movements over the last 50 days.

This shark is available for adoption—your support helps make long-term tracking and conservation research like this possible.

INSTRUCTIONS

Explore dozens of satellite tracks by scrolling through the tracks to your left or at the bottom if you are viewing from a mobile device or tablet.

RESEARCH

These shark satellite tracks are part of an ongoing research project by SRC scientists to better understand the migratory routes and residency patterns of sharks in South Florida. To learn more, explore the detailed research page: GPS for Sharks.

ADOPT A SHARK

They may not be cute and cuddly, but sharks add beauty and diversity to our planet’s oceans. Their populations are in great decline, and researching these apex predators is neither easy nor cheap. To ensure SRC’s satellite tracking study of sharks continues, adopt a shark!

A tax-deductible $3,000 donation will cover the cost of one new SPOT tag. In return, you will be given the opportunity to name your shark and follow his/her movements on our website using Google Earth.

Classes and entire schools are also welcome to collectively adopt sharks. What a way to enrich your educational experience!

Learn more on the Adopt A Shark page.

F.A.Q.

Why does a shark appear to be “on land”?

Sometimes a shark’s location may appear on land or in an unexpected place on the map. This does not mean the shark actually left the ocean. Satellite tags estimate a shark’s position using brief signals sent to orbiting satellites when the fin breaks the surface. If only a few signals are received, or if the signal is affected by waves or tag angle, the location estimate can be less precise. In these cases, the map may show a “poor fix” that is offset from the shark’s true position—even placing it on land. Scientists carefully review and filter these locations to separate real movements from inaccurate points, so while the map may occasionally look strange, the shark is safely doing what sharks do best: swimming in the sea.

Why does a shark transmission stop?

Satellite tags are essentially fancy computers attached to live sharks. There are a number of things that can happen to a tag once it is released.

In order for a tag to transmit the shark must break the surface of the water. This can sometimes be infrequent and sporadic.
Our tags are equipped with enough battery life to sustain up to a year of transmissions. However, this number is variable depending on the frequency a shark transmits. More transmissions will cause a tag to lose battery quicker.
Satellite tags are designed to eventually pop of a shark so the animal is not swimming with it indefinitely. The tags are attached using titanium that will corrode in saltwater; the length of the corrosion process varies with conditions in the water such as salinity and temperature.
As a shark heals the tag can actually get pushed right out of the fin.
As the tag travels with a shark it can accumulate algae and other organisms. This can block the tag and prevent it from successfully transmitting.
As sharks go through life there is potential for collision. For example, run-ins with other sharks or getting caught in a coral reef can break the tag and prevent transmission.