Atlantic Shark Institute Tags First Hammerhead Shark Off Rhode Island

A scalloped hammerhead shark swimming off the coast of Rhode Island on July 24, 2026, was captured on video during a mission to tag sharks, according to the Atlantic Shark Institute. The nonprofit organization recently achieved its first-ever successful hammerhead tagging, marking a notable milestone for local marine research.

First-Ever Hammerhead Tagging Off Rhode Island

While operating an expedition on July 24, 2026, to tag sandbar sharks in Southern New England waters, researchers from the Atlantic Shark Institute encountered a massive endangered scalloped hammerhead shark. Tomas Koeck of Silent Flight Studios captured video footage of the large animal swimming through turquoise Atlantic waters. According to Jon Dodd, executive director of the institute, the crew attempted to bait and deploy a tag on the scalloped hammerhead, but the animal refused the bait. Later in the same expedition, the team located a 6-foot-long female smooth hammerhead shark and successfully attached a tag.

Warming Waters Shift Shark Migration Patterns

Ocean temperatures are altering traditional marine habitats across the northeastern United States. According to Jon Dodd, warming waters are drawing shark species typically associated with Florida and southern states much further north than they ventured 25 years ago. This northward shift explains the presence of hammerheads in New England waters. Scalloped hammerheads remain rarer in these northern zones compared to smooth hammerheads because they possess a narrower temperature tolerance range, as noted by the Atlantic Shark Institute.

Satellite and Acoustic Tracking Research

The Atlantic Shark Institute deploys satellite and acoustic tags to monitor shark populations across New England. According to the institute, these tracking devices collect essential data regarding migration patterns, habitat use, nursery grounds, shifting residency, and seasonal movements. The newly deployed tag on the smooth hammerhead will allow researchers to follow the animal up and down the East Coast for a decade or longer. Dodd stated that the nonprofit focuses heavily on tagging multiple individuals of a single species rather than scattering single tags across numerous species to maximize the research value for each deployed device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are hammerhead sharks being found in Rhode Island waters?

According to the Atlantic Shark Institute, rising ocean temperatures are making New England water temperatures much more attractive to southern shark species than they were 25 years ago.

What is the difference between scalloped and smooth hammerheads in New England?

Scalloped hammerheads are rarer in northern waters than smooth hammerheads because they do not tolerate as wide of a temperature range, according to Atlantic Shark Institute executive director Jon Dodd.

How long do the research tags last?

Tags deployed by the Atlantic Shark Institute allow researchers to track individual sharks up and down the East Coast for a decade or longer.

Explore More: Stay up to date with ongoing marine research by visiting the Atlantic Shark Institute official website and checking out their latest updates on social media. For more coastal footage, view “Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast” via Ocean State Media on PBS Passport.