Researchers at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, part of the Charney School, have conducted Israel’s first-ever ultrasound examination on a sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and discovered that she is in an advanced stage of pregnancy. The examination was performed on a shark named “Romi” off the coast of Hadera as part of a long-term study on local shark populations. At the same time, another shark, “Emily,” a dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), was found with a fishing hook near her gills. The hook was successfully removed, and it was revealed that she, too, is pregnant.
Led by Dr. Aviad Scheinin, head of the top predator research program at the station, the researchers are focusing on reproductive indicators of sharks in the eastern Mediterranean. Their goal is to determine whether the Hadera area serves as a permanent nursery or a temporary transit site for pregnant sharks.
By utilizing tagging, hormonal tests, and ultrasound scans, the collected data contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of shark reproductive behavior in the region.