posted September 19, 2012 11:08 AM            

Rather than harpoon the sharks from a distance, the Ocearch (OH'-serch) team baits the fish and leads them onto a lift, tagging and taking blood, tissue and semen samples up close from the world's most feared predator.

The real-time satellite tag tracks the shark each time its dorsal fin breaks the surface, plotting its location on a map.

Researchers hope the expedition sheds light on the sharks' migration patterns to protect breeding and birthing sites, improve public safety and raise awareness about the threatened species.