Projects

Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation

Founded by Dr Samuel Gruber in 1990, the Bimini Biological Field Station – or Shark Lab – was set up initially to research the population dynamics of lemon sharks, a study that has been running for over two decades.

The Bimini archipelago supports a diversity of habitats from mangroves to coral reefs, which led the field station to broaden its scope considerably. Its projects now focus on a wide range of shark and ray species, notably great hammerhead.

The Shark Lab is also an education centre, providing students with experience-based opportunities to study marine life and further their careers as marine biologists.

Our partnership

The Save Our Seas Foundation enjoys a close, long-term working relationship with the Bimini Biological Field Station, supporting it with funding and maintaining an active communication link.

Partner website

Projects with this partner

Keeping tabs on tiger shark moms

By Matthew Smukall (PhD)

What’s driving where tiger sharks move within a shark sanctuary? The body condition and reproductive status of female tigers might give some clue, helping to identify important pupping areas. Matt is tracking where large, mature female tiger sharks are moving and combining that information with what is known about their body condition.

Shark persona

By Félicie Dhellemmes

Did you know that individual sharks have different personalities? Felicie is working with lemon sharks to discover what impact their different characters might have on their lives. Could the persona of a shark cause it to live longer or be braver than other sharks?

The shark/turtle predator/prey dynamic

By Mariana Fuentes

Bimini in the Bahamas is home to large populations of sharks. Mariana will observe whether the presence of those sharks affects how turtles use their habitat and whether more turtles means more sharks. Bimini is undergoing intensive development for tourism, so understanding how animals use their space is critical for their conservation.

Activities at the Shark Lab

By Matthew Smukall, Samuel H. Gruber (1938 - 2019)

Samuel, better known as Doc, has been studying sharks for 50 years. He discovered how sharks see and even gave us insights into how they think. He founded the Bimini Biological Field Station in 1990, and has been training and inspiring young shark researchers ever since.

Lemon sharks: familiar friends?

By Bryan Keller

Did you know that cows have best friends? It seems that lemon sharks could too. Bryan’s research showed than these animals prefer to spend time with sharks they know, rather than those they have never met before.

Tracking Bimini’s sharks

By Matthew Smukall, Vital Heim

To protect Bimini’s great hammerheads, we need to know where they go. With the help of a network of receivers, Matt, director of the Bimini Biological Field Station, is recording and studying the movements of this shark and other species around the island.

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