But what happens if a shark in the open ocean needs surgery–for example, to insert an internal tag? Collatos explains that she start by tossing out a piece of bait with a fishing rod. So our tagging process is three to four minutes.”Collatos uses a topical anesthetic to insert the internal shark tag, which is about the size of a AA battery. When she completes the procedure, she flips the shark upright and removes the ropes and hook before releasing it. From start to finish, the shark is usually on the line for only five to ten minutes.