A Case of Mistaken Identity: Blacktip and Spinner Shark Migrations

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Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 7 – 8:30 pm When you think of a shark, you might automatically picture a blacktip or spinner shark, since they are your quintessential shark species. These two species look so similar that many fishermen struggle to tell them apart. This misidentification has led to confusion about where each species goes during their migrations. In this webinar, SERC shark biologist Beth Bowers will highlight how she and her colleagues are tagging blacktip and spinner sharks. She'll reveal how these tags are helping us understand differences between the two species' migrations, what environmental cues drive their movements and how this information can improve fishery management and conservation efforts. This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)'s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live stream and on the recording. Bysigning up on Zoom, you'll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the live stream. SERC seeks to showcase a wide variety of topics and perspectives for its evening science talks. Views expressed during these talks belong to the individual speakers and not the Smithsonian. Sign up on Zoom to watch live stream or on demand Event photo: Beth Bowers on a shark tagging expedition (Credit: Jake Konka) Sponsor: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Event Location: Online only Cost: Free Get Tickets/Register: smithsonian.zoom.us... Categories: After Five, Lectures & Discussions, Webcasts & Online Related Events: March 17:Hitchhiker's Guide to Marine Invasions: How Ships Unwittingly Aid—And Combat—Invasive Species Accessibility: Captioning More info: smithsonian.zoom.us...