Sharklife Conservation Group deployed Tilt Current Meters (TCM-1's) in iSimangaliso Wetland Park Marine Protected Area to collect temperature and current data, and study the effects these environmental conditions have on pregnant Spotted Ragged-toothed sharks (C. Taurus). These sharks, also known as "Raggies", have a nine-month gestation period and congregate every year in this marine protected area off South Africa from December through March. The Tilt Current Meter deployment are part of a 3-year study that aims to identify key congregation areas and movement patterns of the pregnant sharks. Understanding the sharks’ spatial and temporal abundance is key to protecting important congregation sites and migratory corridors. The TCM-1's are easy for a diver to carry and deploy and most importantly, are non-intrusive to sensitive habitats and animals.
Grant Smith, Sharklife’s managing director, commented "We are very happy with our Tilt Meters, the device is reliably built, complimented with easy to use software and a thorough user manual, not to mention the quick and friendly support of the Lowell team is there if needed.”
Sharklife is a non-profit organization established in 2005 to address the exploitation of both shark populations and ocean fisheries in South Africa, through actively engaging in research and education to protect vulnerable marine life. Find more information about their research here: