Teens take to the seas to tag, study sharks off Montauk coastline at unique camp
The campers also learn how to tag sharks, which then allows them to collect data on each tagged shark’s movements.
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Some high school students are attending a unique summer camp - one that lets them tag and study sharks off the Montauk coastline.
Twenty-six different shark species have been identified in the waters off Montauk, says shark biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell.
O'Connell has been sharing this knowledge with teens at his summer shark camp.
The campers also learn how to tag sharks, which then allows them to collect data on each tagged shark’s movements.
O’Connell stressed the importance of sharks to the marine ecosystem.
He said that he thinks of the ocean as a “giant Jenga puzzle.”
He said the critical piece of the puzzle is the sharks. He said if you remove the sharks, “that entire puzzle collapses.”
Montauk resident Isabel Pezzano attended the camp and now works at it.
Her family allows campers to stay at their Montauk home.
“They want to help with the research that we’re doing. We believe in it. We love conservation and the animals, so they want to help in any way they can," says Pezzano.
O’Connell said sharks in the Montauk water include dusky sharks, dogfish sharks, shortfin mako sharks and of course, great whites.
Registration for next summer’s camp opens in December, and News 12 has been told that it fills up quickly.
