Members do not tag sharks.
Shark Fyve is a catch-and-release recognition challenge, not a tagging program. Any future tagging work will be conducted only through approved scientific partnerships.
No member-led tagging
We do not equip anglers with tags, do not accept member-applied tag data as verification, and do not incentivize tagging within the challenge.
Partner-led future work
Tagging will be introduced only in collaboration with permitted research institutions with published protocols, peer oversight, and species-appropriate methods.
Permits & training
Any Shark Fyve-branded research effort will require documented permits (NOAA HMS, state FWC / equivalent international bodies) and trained handlers.
Release-first ethic
Verified catches are release-only for prohibited species and encouraged for all others. Time-out-of-water is minimized. Protected species stay in the water.
Researchers interested in collaboration
If you are a permitted research institution or fisheries scientist interested in partnering on a Shark Fyve research protocol, reach out to the board. We will not deploy any tagging or biological sampling program outside of a proper partnership.