April – May 2011
Location:
Seattle, Everett, and greater Puget Sound
Sixgill Sharks
Attract, observe and film the elusive Sixgill shark
Sixgill sharks have the widest distribution of all sharks, except for possibly the great white shark. Due to their solitary lifestyle, very little is known about their behavior.
Little known to most local Seattle residents, the ubiquitous Sixgill shark breeds and rears its young in Puget Sound. These pups commonly remain in Puget Sound and Elliott Bay for their first year of life. These ancient sharks grow to more than 15 feet long, are a key part of the food chain and are considered an indicator species for the health of the ocean ecosystem. However, they are little understood as they seldom swim to depths of less than 100 feet.
OceanGate will conduct several missions to test methods of attracting these sharks – principally through baiting – and will use both ROVs and Antipodes to observe their behavior. We are working with experts from the local NOAA office of Marine Fisheries and the Seattle Aquarium to evaluate our techniques.
For more information please call us at +1 (425) 939-8409 x3 or email us at expeditions@opentheoceans.com