Local non-profit combines shark research with program to honor fallen veterans

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A local non-profit that helps veterans heal from PTSD through water activities is creating lasting tributes to fallen service members by naming great white sharks after them.

Knot Lucky Fishing takes veterans offshore to catch and tag great white sharks as part of a program that combines therapeutic fishing with marine research. The organization sees parallels between the apex predators and military veterans who struggle with unseen wounds after service.

“Great white sharks are the apex predator of the ocean,” said Jimmy Lee Armel with Knot Lucky Fishing. “If you ever see an adult great white, they’re all beat up and banged up, kind of like we are.”

Ariel Tricoche, who retired from military service last year after more than 20 years, recently participated in the program. The calming presence of the water helps veterans like Tricoche find peace after service.

“Just retired last year, military is all I know for, you know, 20 plus years,” Tricoche said.

Once caught, the sharks are fitted with satellite SPOT tags that help researchers track their movements and better protect the species. The tagging program aims to raise awareness about great white sharks and provide data for scientists.

“Raise more awareness about these beautiful animals, the great white shark, and get more data for scientists to learn from them and hopefully further protect them,” Armel said.

For veterans, the experience includes the opportunity to name the sharks they catch after fallen service members. Tricoche named one shark after his brother, who died in 2022.

“It just really just kind of took everything. Took my breath away. Took everything together. Brought everything together at the same time,” Tricoche said.

The first shark Tricoche hooked broke free just 20 feet from the boat, but he returned days later and successfully reeled a shark to the boat for tagging. He named the shark Antonio Luis Tricoche, creating a lasting tribute to his fallen brother while contributing to shark research.

All of that tracking data is available here.