On September 18, 2011, the RJD team spent a day shark tagging on a reef off of Key Largo, Florida. During the day, they tagged 4 large female nurse sharks. For the final shark, expedition participants were invited to snorkel with the shark as it was being worked up.

In this video you can see Grad student Virginia Ansaldi lifting the shark's tail and body for easier access to the circle hook in its mouth. After the hook is removed, she and Ph.D. student David Shiffman swim the shark down to the reef to safely see it on its way. The beautiful shark swims away in perfect condition.

The mission of the R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program is to advance ocean conservation and scientific literacy by combining cutting edge research and outreach activities.

The R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program is a joint program of the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and the Leonard and Jayne Abbess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami.