Oregon' State University's proposed 'Vibrant Ocean' license plate would support shark research. Image: Courtesy of Natalie Donato/OSU Big Fish Lab
There are 15 species of sharks that swim in the waters off of the Oregon coast, but biologists don't know a whole lot about the role they play in our marine ecosystem. A new vanity license plate could change that.
The latest: Oregon State University's Big Fish Lab, the only facility in the state dedicated to shark research, is now selling vouchers for a specialty plate that will fund additional education, training and outreach efforts.
The plate, designed by OSU marine biology student Natalie Donato, features a large salmon shark at the center, plus two blue sharks and a common thresher on each side.
What they're saying: "Our hope is that with every plate, we get closer to appreciating that sharks aren't the mindless killers of Hollywood, but dynamic and important actors in our vibrant oceans," Taylor Chapple, founder of the Big Fish Lab, said in a news release.
The bottom line: Before the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles begins manufacturing the plate, 3,000 license vouchers must be sold.
They cost $40, and roughly $35 goes directly to supporting the lab's mission.
