Virginia Sea Grant:
Cownose ray swims while the satellite tag trails behind. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Bob Fisher (left) recruits his son Carver (right) to help release cownose rays for satellite tagging experiment. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Bob Fisher (left) and Carver Fisher (right) lift a cownose ray from the holding tank prior to releasing it into the York River. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Adult cownose ray, which may weigh as much as 70 pounds is lifted out of the holding tank by Bob Fisher (left) and his son Carver. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Cownose ray swims while the satellite tag trails behind. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Partners and other helpers are gathered to help document the experiment and carry rays from the truck bed into the river. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Carver Fisher (right) reads the tag number on this ray, which has bite marks along it's fins indicating recent mating activity. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Rays are transported from the tank into a truck to the edge of the York River. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
In the truck bed, rays are covered with wet towels. The towels keep them cool and the darkness will help to keep them calm during transport. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
It takes three adults to carry two cownose rays from the truck bed to the edge of the York River for release. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
In the water, Fisher and his helpers take the wet towels off of the rays so they can be released. ©Janet Krenn/VASG
Virginia Sea Grant:
Fisher moves the cownose ray out of the towel and places it into the river. ©Janet Krenn
Virginia Sea Grant:
Fisher demonstrates how the satellite tag should float above the ray as it swims. ©Janet Krenn/VASG