Pulling a seven-foot shark out of the water to flush its stomach is just another day at the office for marine scientists at Oregon State University, who have spent years trying to change public perception about the sea creatures.
Under the leadership of Dr. Taylor Chapple, scientists at the Chapple Big Fish Lab spend their time studying more than 300 sharks of varying species in Washington state’s Willapa Bay, just north of the Oregon border.
By examining a shark’s stomach contents, researchers like Jessica Schulte can better understand the animal’s health and also the water quality in the bay. A healthy shark means a healthy ocean…