Researchers attach satellite transmitters to the sharks in order to track them. They use a lance and mounted transmitter, get the shark close to the boat and then carefully place the tracker at the base of the dorsal. This is known as the dorsal saddle. From there, the shark caries the device and at a prearranged time, the burn wire on the device releases the transmitter which floats up to the top and becomes oriented straight up and down with the aerial in the air. At that time the satellite begins to interrogate the archival tag. It takes all of that information down to a land based computer where researchers can aces and analyze it.

While researchers tag the sharks in an effort to learn more about them, the actual process of tagging may turn out to be quite dangerous. While there are dangers and risks associated with tagging, the act is imperative for shark researches. By tagging and recapturing sharks, researchers can learn where they go, find out how long they live, and keep track of their reproduction and health. The current long distance record is held by a blue shark tagged off in New York and recaptured 3, 740 miles away off the South American Coast.