VIMS Sharks

Sharks play a key role in marine ecosystems worldwide. The Virginia Shark Monitoring and Assessment Program (VASMAP) is a key source of data for better understanding and management of sharks in the mid-Atlantic. The systematic study of mid-Atlantic sharks at VIMS began in 1973 and now stands as one of the longest-running fishery-independent study of shark populations in the world. This longline survey brought global attention to significant declines in shark populations due to overfishing, and led to the first U.S. management plan for sharks, in 1993. Because sexual maturity doesn't occur until age 5 or later, and only 8-10 pups are produced each year, recovery of shark populations from severe depletion can take decades. As fishing regulations help shark populations rebound in U.S. waters, data from shark research programs at VIMS continue to inform stock assessments and fishery management plans at federal and state levels.