Blue is examined before her release back into the ocean.
Image: Two Oceans Aquarium
After eight years in the care of Two Oceans Aquarium, Blue, a female ragged-tooth shark, has returned home to the ocean.
On March 18, as part of ongoing shark conservation efforts, Blue was successfully released at Struisbaai.
“Catch and release is a central component of the Aquarium’s ragged-tooth shark conservation programme," said Dr Ilse Jenkinson, Two Oceans Aquarium veterinarian.
"The reason for temporarily including them in our exhibits is to be an ambassador species for sharks, educating our visitors on the wonder of the ocean. The message these sharks deliver is not to fear them but to be in awe and wonder of these complex animals.”
Blue arrived at the aquarium on May 3, 2018, after being rescued alongside another ragged-tooth shark, Charlie.
At the time, she weighed just 26.6kg and measured 183cm in length.
By 2026, as a large, sexually mature adult, Blue reached 201kg and 295cm in length.
Jenkinson fitted Blue with two types of tags.
An acoustic tag, surgically inserted just under the skin, that emits a high-frequency sound that is picked up by receivers placed all along the coastline.
These receivers will record the sound signals with the date, time, and her unique ID code.
Acoustic tags can last up to 10 years and collect crucial information on the movements and migrations of inshore marine animals.
Blue was also fitted with an external spaghetti tag, attached below the dorsal fin that displays a unique number and contact details.
These tags allow fishers to record and report the tag number, location, date, and length if the shark is caught and released.
Kevin Spiby, aquarium curator, said: “Tagging also raises awareness about sharks in an ocean increasingly impacted by human activity.”