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Cat to fund shark research

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Caterpillar Inc. said Thursday it plans to help a research company in its efforts to improve the sustainability of one of the ocean's most dangerous and perhaps mysterious creatures, the shark.

Caterpillar and OCEARCH agreed to a three-year partnership that will help the organization in its global research on sharks. Under the agreement Caterpillar will fund nine research expeditions over the next three years, the company said.

To date OCEARCH has led 15 expeditions to safely research the breeding, feeding, migration and birthing patterns of these ocean creatures.

"Most people think sharks are invincible," said OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer. "But they are in real danger. We must find a sustainable path forward because sharks play a crucial role in maintaining balance in the delicate oceanic ecosystem. Now, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Caterpillar, we can continue our critical research expeditions that generate the data needed to inform policy makers, students and the general public on this issue."

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has determined that of the shark and ray species assessed, 30 percent are threatened or near-threatened with extinction.

Fischer's vessel, the MV OCEARCH, already relies on Cat power in the water. It has two Cat engines and has three Cat generators on board that power an at-sea laboratory, custom-built hydraulic lift and 55,000-pound capacity research platform with the capability of handling 5,000-pound sharks. The vessel is manned by OCEARCH's team of scientists and crew members.

"OCEARCH's significant work is advancing our knowledge and sustaining the waters that are so vital to people and economies around the world," said Tom Frake, Caterpillar vice president for the Marine and Petroleum Power Division. "The fact he's a loyal Cat customer is an added bonus. We're proud to associate our two brands, which share common values, high levels of success and a commitment to sustainability."

Company spokeswoman Rachel Potts said Caterpillar has worked with Fischer in the past because of the shared commitment to sustainability.

"We care about this because sustainability is important to us in many ways," Potts said. "Sustainability can mean tangible things like equipment and machines and engines, but we also do a lot to focus on education and the environment. Because the methods at OCEARCH are done in a very sustainable way, trying to improve the sustainability of the ocean itself, we are pleased to be part of it."

Because OCEARCH's work occurs in waters around the globe, Fischer understands and depends on the unmatched support of Caterpillar's network of dealers.

"Seconds matter in our research," said Fischer. "The last thing you want is your power supply to fail when you're trying to tag a two-ton great white shark on the hydraulic lift. If we need a part, I know a call to the local Cat dealer will be answered quickly and we'll be back in business. The dependability of Cat equipment along with their global dealer network makes them the ultimate global enabler for our research, and we are proud to call them a partner."

"Chris doesn't have to be shown the benefit Caterpillar's business model can bring to his operation; he intrinsically understands the value because he's lived it for years," said Caterpillar Global Brand Marketing Manager Diane Lantz-Rickard in a news release. "He believes in our products and support; we believe in the work he's doing for our planet. It's a satisfying match."

OCEARCH embarks on its first Caterpillar-funded expedition on Feb. 21 from Jacksonville, Fla., and will spend 20 days at sea researching great white sharks.

OCEARCH is a non-profit organization researching the biology and health of sharks, in conjunction with research on shark life history and migration. More information can be found at www.ocearch.org, including access to the Global Shark Tracker.

About the Author
Paul Gordon is the editor of The Peorian after spending 29 years of indentured servitude at the Peoria Journal Star. He’s an award-winning writer, raconteur and song-and-dance man. He also went to a high school whose team name is the Alices (that’s Vincennes Lincoln High School in Indiana; you can look it up).