Lemons Bringing the Community Together

Project Lemon Aid aims to establish a baseline population survey of juvenile lemon sharks at sites around Turks and Caicos and to investigate if the females return to the same mangroves they grew up in. The first stage of this research involves tagging the baby to sub-adult lemon sharks in the coastal waters, focusing on crucial mangrove habitats. The PIT tag, similar to the one you may tag your dog or cat with, will stay with the animal for the rest of its life (at least twenty years) and, if sampled again, will reveal growth and migration around the islands of these sharks. Also, genetics from a tiny fin clip on the shark’s dorsal fin will help us reveal family trees of the lemon sharks inhabiting the area and see how the Turks and Caicos populations are related to the Bahamas and Florida lemon shark stocks.

Photo © Maria Dominga

Since its inception, a critical part of the project has been including the local community, ensuring local stakeholders have a voice. Aligning with Sharks4Kids’ mission, our initial focus was on schools and students, but each year, we’ve expanded on this, engaging even more people.

This year, students from Clement Howell High School, Provo Middle School, Precious Treasures, and Alpha Christian Academy became marine biologists for the day. Every student tagged a shark and participated in all aspects of the data collection during scientific workups. They took the measurements, collected tissue samples, and made observations.

Photo © Duncan Brake

In addition to students, this year, we were joined by DECR Intern Rashante Garland.

Initially, I felt a great deal of anxiety and fear at the thought of handling and being in close contact with sharks, as I had been taught to avoid them for most of my life. However, as I worked alongside the Shark4Kids team, I began to feel at ease around the sharks. Today, I am less afraid of being around sharks as I know how to respond when they are nearby. I intend to share this knowledge with others and enlighten them on the importance of shark tagging.

Photo © Duncan Brake

We were also joined by DECR staff member Luis Serpas, the National Park Facilities Manager, who has been involved with the project since year 1. Sharks4Kids was thrilled to have him back in the field. He is continuing to gain experience and learn.

I have had a great experience with Project Lemon Aid. Since I’m studying marine biology, this has given me great field experience, and I’ve been able to work with one of my favorite animals, lemon sharks! I’m glad to be involved in such a great initiative, as sharks are important for our ecosystem. Not many people know, so working with the local community and students can help bring much-needed awareness to these amazing creatures!

This year, we were also excited to have someone from Fisheries join us in the field. Destiny Missick, Scientific Officer Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management, spent a day on the water to learn about Project Lemon Aid.

As a shark lover, nothing is more important than protecting shark species worldwide. As a lover of science, participating in research is always a privilege. To combine those two passions and have this opportunity to interact with the juvenile sharks is something I’m not only elated about but also so proud of. Being able to share my knowledge with the younger generation also brings everything full circle for me, as my love for the oceans and all that they hold also started at a young age. I believe that sharing these experiences with them plants a small seed and will help them to see that sharks are not to be feared, but to be respected and protected.

Fear and misunderstanding about sharks exist around the world. We can change the conversation if we continue to spread education and share the experience with community members. Nothing is more powerful than first-hand experience in helping people understand why sharks are important and why we are studying them. Together we can make an impact and create sustainable conservation initiatives.