OTT – Animal-borne Sensors

Animal-Borne Sensors Delivering Real-Time Ocean Data for the Mid-Atlantic

The University of Delaware, in partnership with MARACOOS, is using sharks to collect real-time ocean data in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Specially designed, animal-borne tags record temperature, salinity, and depth as the sharks dive and transmit these data to orbiting satellite receivers in near real-time, providing critical information for storm forecasting, maritime safety, fisheries, and offshore wind planning. This project develops and tests these innovative biologging tags, delivering high-quality data directly into regional and global ocean models

These shark-based observations are part of the larger U.S. Animal Telemetry Network (ATN), a multi-agency effort that provides coordination, data management, and long-term infrastructure for marine animal telemetry. By integrating data from sharks and other tagged species across the region, the ATN ensures that high-quality telemetry data are available for biological monitoring, fisheries management, and ecosystem-based planning.