The Dorsal Fin

KTVU.com is reporting that Dr. Michael Domeier is seeking a permit to tag 11 female great white sharks over a period of four years at the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The report addresses the somewhat recent controversy regarding “Junior” and the SPOT tagging program, which KTVU reports was brought about by researchers who oppose the tagging techniques employed by Domeier.

An earlier report from MSNBC.com quoted Domeier as saying he had voluntarily stopped using the SPOT tags. The article went on to note that Domeier was working on a new tagging technique. There was no mention in the KTVU.com report of whether this no technique would be employed should the Farallones permit request be approved.

In addition to the KTVU article, there is also video report which includes interviews with Dr. Domeier and FNMS Superintendent Maria Brown. You can check out the article and video at KTVU.com.

From National Geographic:

The Shark Men are in the beautiful, plentiful Sea of Cortez continuing their search for Architeuthis – the giant squid. The crew is joined on this expedition with a world famous giant squid expert to hopefully be the first ones to capture footage of this elusive animal in its natural habitat.

“Shark Men – Giants of the Deep” airs Saturday (July 2) at 10pm ET/PM on the National Geographic Channel.

From National Geographic:

This time the Shark Men aren’t searching for sharks they’re tracking the giant Humboldt squid. Little is known about the elusive monster that can grow as long as a school bus. Joined by three squid experts, the Shark Men scour the Sea of Cortez by spotter plane and boat in the hopes of finding a giant squid. After days of finding only a juvenile Humboldt, Captain Brett manages to catch a fully mature Humboldt, but what the cameras catch is even more spectacular.

National Geographic Channel’s “Shark Men” airs Saturday at 10pm ET/PT.

From National Geographic:

The Shark Men are once again in unfamiliar territory; the Sea of Cortez. This time they have a different agenda; they are chasing Amy. Dr. Domeier believes Amy has come to the Sea of Cortez to give birth. The crew soon finds out that this phenomenal region has much more to teach them. They will go on a journey to find the truth behind the great white shark folklore surrounding this area. As the crew uncovers secrets of the Sea of Cortez; the search for Amy continues.

“Shark Men: Deadly Sea” premieres Sunday at 10pm on the National Geographic Channel.

According to a report from MSNBC, Dr. Michael Domeier has voluntarily stopped the use of the Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting (SPOT) tags seen in National Geographic’s “Shark Men.” Domeier is quoted as saying that he has “stopped using such tags because of issues related to fin damage.”

Domeier went on to explain that the plastic bolts used in the tagging practice seen on “Shark Men” can result in deformation of the tagged shark’s dorsal fin, due to the fact that the plastic bolts are relatively permanent and do not degrade. The use of metal bolts that eventually rust away was not reasonable option, according to Domeier, because the bolts can rust unevenly and cause severe damage to the affected shark’s dorsal fin.

Domeier is working on a plan to resolve the issues with the SPOT tagging procedures, but the resolution is taking longer than expected, according to the MSNBC report. The article added that Domeier has turned down the opportunity to join the next season of “Shark Men” due to his work on developing this improved tagging technology and a current book project.