28th ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP April 21-25, 2003 Shark Transport:  Knowns And Unknowns Martin G. Greenwell John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL, The safe capture and transport of sharks present several challenges due to key features of shark anatomy and physiology.  Important issues include risk of trauma, overexertion, hypoxia, circulatory compromise/collapse, hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and environmental accumulation of toxic metabolites leading to declining water quality.  In addition to capture techniques, some of the factors contribute directly to a fatal exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome or ‘capture myopathy.’  Prophylactic and therapeutic options intended to minimize the risk of trauma, hypoxia, fatal capture myopathy, and ammonia toxicity are discussed.  Logistical considerations such as careful planning of the transport regimen, use of adequate and appropriate transport equipment, use of staging facilities, minimal handling, adequate oxygenation and maintenance of good water quality all contribute to improved survival of transported sharks.  Important water quality parameters to monitor during transport include dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and ammonia (NH3).  Oxygen supplementation, access to clean water for water changes, and judicious use of weak bases (NaHCO3, Na2CO3), buffers (tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane), and/or ammonia-binding agents such as sodium hydroxymethanesulfonate may be necessary to maintain adequate water quality.   Ideally, a pre-transport blood sample should be collected to obtain baseline values. The following parameters should be measured:  blood gases (O2 and CO2), pH, lactate, glucose, potassium, ionized calcium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Important parameters to be monitored during transport include blood gases, pH, lactate, glucose, and ionized calcium.  The small, portable, blood chemistry machines currently in use cannot accurately measure the potassium, sodium, or blood urea nitrogen levels in elasmobranch blood due to its high osmolality.  However, these same units facilitate rapid tank-side measurement of other important parameters.  Aggressive and appropriate administration of supplemental oxygen, intravenous fluids containing alkalinizing agents (NaHCO3 and/or sodium acetate), intravenous glucose, and/or intravenous calcium gluconate may be indicated upon assessment of blood chemistry values.  All of the prophylactic and therapeutic issues mentioned above will be discussed in detail.  Safe and effective sedation techniques would be very valuable for minimizing handling, reducing trauma and anxiety, and for decreasing oxygen needs, metabolic rate, and metabolic waste production.  These factors become critical in the safe transport of pelagic and fractious species. Return to 28th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page