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The first shark to appear during our trip came as a surprise. Instead of a blue shark, a shortfin mako shark emerged from the deep. Capable of reaching speeds exceeding 70 km/h (43 mph), the shortfin mako is widely regarded as the fastest shark in the ocean.
Later, a smaller blue shark with a large fishing hook embedded in its mouth began circling the boat and remained in the area for several hours. To remove the hook, the shark was carefully captured and brought aboard. The hook was extracted, and researchers took the opportunity to attach a satellite tracking tag to its dorsal fin. Throughout the procedure, seawater was continuously pumped through the shark's mouth to ensure adequate oxygen supply and minimize stress. The tag was designed to detach automatically after a few months.
Interestingly, the blue sharks encountered in these waters are almost exclusively males. Data collected from satellite tags have revealed remarkable migration patterns, with some individuals crossing the Atlantic and appearing near the Canary Islands only months after being tagged off Rhode Island. These findings highlight both the extraordinary mobility of blue sharks and the international nature of their conservation.