Bring your love of sharks to Suds for Sharks! The NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and Crystal Coast Brewing Company are hosting a fundraiser for sand tiger shark research and conservation on March 19.

The FREE kid-friendly event will be held at Crystal Coast Brewing Company at 702 Bridges St. Morehead City from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. (just before trivia night). Food Trucks will be onsite for the event!

There will be two speakers during the event, Dr. Avery Paxton, a scientist with SEZARC who is researching female sand tiger sharks habitat use of North Carolina wrecks, and underwater photographer Tanya Houppermans who has won several awards for her images of sand tiger sharks in North Carolina.

There will be a silent auction for shark-themed swag and all donations will go toward sand tiger shark research and conservation. The brewery has even crafted a special beer for the event, Sand Tiger Pilsner, and $1 from each beer sold will go toward shark conservation.

The sand tiger shark population off the North Carolina coast is invaluable for research being conducted to better understand the species and to help with the conservation of the species world wide.

Over fishing and one of the slowest reproductive rates among sharks, have caused sand tigers to be listed as a species of concern by National Marine Fisheries Service and listed as vulnerable by International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Even though there may be an abundance of this species found off the North Carolina coast, more people need to be aware that northwest Atlantic and global populations may not be as healthy and the species is considered critically endangered in other parts of the world.