Participating members from Cayman’s diving community together with the DoE are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Sharklogger Network, the local shark research citizen science programme. A dedicated logo was designed by Ilana Bartlett, volunteer graphic designer, to celebrate this milestone in shark conservation and education.
Key Programme Objectives and Design
The Sharklogger Network citizen science programme was established in 2016 by Dr Johanna Kohler at the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) to monitor local shark populations throughout the year, across all three islands. The community-led programme relies on recreational divers, snorkelers, and dive operators to gather meaningful dive and shark data. Unlike many programs that only log sightings, participants must record every dive, even when no sharks are seen. This “zero-data” is critical for calculating “sharks per dive” and determining relative abundance and trends over time.
Recent Research Findings
A peer-reviewed study published in 2025 based on years of Sharklogger data revealed several abundance patterns. Sharks are more abundant in areas with less human activity and stronger currents, regardless of whether the area is a Marine Protected Area (MPA). The Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks are the most frequently encountered and Sharklogger diver data also provided the first confirmation that reproductive behaviour for these species peaks in the summer (May–August).
Impact on Conservation
The data collected directly informs DoE management decisions regarding shark protection in the Cayman Islands, where all shark species have been legally protected since 2015 (NCA, 2013). Building on this evidence collected by participants, a new DoE study, funded by the UK Government through Darwin Plus, will focus on the reproductive ecology of Cayman’s coastal sharks and the Sharklogger Network will continue to be a big part of DoE’s shark research & conservation. Interested resident divers, snorkelers or dive operators can join the programme by emailing sharkloggers@gmail.com.
More info: https://doe.ky/marine/sharks/sharklogger-network/
Publication: https://doe.ky/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Sharklogger_journal.pone.0319637_May2025.pdf
View Ilana’s work at www.ilanabartlett.co.uk and on Instagram at @ilanabartlett
DOE’s Shark Research & Conservation Programme is supported by Caybrew through the White Tip Lager Conservation Initiative.
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