Got a truck?

Got a truck you might want to donate to a good cause? Or, know someone who does?

Here's how you can lend a hand...

Florida Program for Shark Research

The Florida Program for Shark Research (FPSR), located at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, is a leader in both domestic and international sharks, skate and ray research and conservation.

The program is involved in many areas of shark research, including studies on shark biology, ecology, and behavior. We also investigate shark attacks through the International Shark Attack File in order to better understand shark/human interactions. The program promotes shark conservation through educational outreach. Our website is the largest and most frequently accessed site on the World Wide Web and provides unparalleled educational material about sharks and their kin.

We need your help.

The FPSR is seeking a donation of a vehicle to tow our trailered research vessel to various sampling localities throughout the state of Florida. The FPSR has been tracking sharks and rays in the Indian River Lagoon for the past six years and continues to sample and tagging animals with transmitters within this area. In addition, this summer we initiated a shark tagging study in the Cedar Key region of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Additional sampling activities in the near future may include studying the habitat and behavior of shark and sawfish species within more southern Indian River Lagoon localities, studying elasmobranch and sportfish in a large marine protected area off Cape Canaveral, and studying the biology of sharks captured off the Florida Keys. We have obtained funding for travel, transmitters, and sampling gear for many of these studies but are in serious need of a vehicle to tow our boat to sampling sites. Our research program requires a vehicle that can tow an 18 Ð 24 foot boat, can seat between 3-5 people and preferably has a lockable topper that will provide security for sampling gear. We are seeking the donation of a new or gently-used vehicle as we do not have abundant funding for vehicle repair. Thank you so much for your assistance!

If you have any suggestions, or can lend a hand, please email me.

With thanks,

Michelle Press
Field and Laboratory Technician
Florida Program for Shark Research
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida