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Sharks are some of the most popular animals, but how they spend their time in the ocean is a bit of a mystery. Shark biologist and has developed the Shark Harness, which films and tracks tagged sharks, providing insight into post-release behavior, predator-prey interactions, and habitat preference.

The research was published in a recent issue of .

“Animal-borne imaging systems, like our Shark Harness, are important tools for us to not only track the minute-by-minute movements of our focal animals, but also to capture a unique glimpse of the shark’s post-release behavior,” said O’Connell. “By using these systems, we can collect valuable data pertaining to capture stress, post-release survivorship, predator-prey interactions, and habitat preference.”

O’Connell and his team conducted all of the laboratory work on the Shark Harness at the ǧ����Ƶ in May 2017, while he was a Whitman Fellow. Field work was conducted between June and August 2017 and is still ongoing. Often, tag packages are drilled into the cartilage dorsal fin of sharks (think of it like getting your ears pierced), but that only works for shark species with rigid dorsal fins.

At the ǧ����Ƶ O’Connell worked with smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis)—a small shark species about 48 inches long and lacking a rigid dorsal fin. Right now, the Shark Harness camera records for a total of 2.5 hours before popping off the shark and floating to the surface.

“Then the fun part happens, which is when you have to try and find the device floating in the middle of the ocean,” said O’Connell. “Even though there are numerous tags that help you pinpoint the location of the Harness, it’s kind of like finding a needle in a haystack.”