In order to tag sharks you must catch them. A variety of equipment is used to catch sharks. When conducting research, scientists choose gear and procedures in order to help limit possible damage to sharks that could occur as the sharks are captured. The scientist's goal is to capture the shark, collect data, tag the shark, and return it to the ocean to live a healthy life. The size of the mesh is selected according to the size of the sharks being caught.
Smaller mesh is better for catching smaller sharks.
When using gill nets, scientists are extremely careful to remove the sharks immediately, quickly collecting data and tagging the sharks, and returning them to the ocean. For tagging very large sharks, it is not possible to bring them out of the water, so they are tagged from the boat using a pole. Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory have a special permit to use gill nets and are required by law to follow procedures that limit damage to sharks. Gill nets, if not used with special care, can cause damage to sharks or may kill them. Biologists are trained to tag sharks in specific ways that will not harm the shark or affect its movements.