Atlantic White Shark Science and Research

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy provides the most comprehensive publicly available information on white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic.

Through the ongoing efforts of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), acoustic detection data for tagged white sharks off the coast of Massachusetts and a catalog of over 600 tagged and untagged individual Northwest Atlantic white sharks, identified by AWSC, can be explored through the White Shark Logbook.

Current research is focused on white shark movement and behavior with a special emphasis on public safety. The research being conducted consists of several different studies that all seek to improve upon and refine the answers provided by the research that's been conducted to date. In addition, the results of our analysis to estimate population size were published as the feature article in Marine Ecology Progress Series.

While efforts to study white shark habitat use and broad-scale movements will continue, a major objective is to document fine-scale movements to provide a more detailed picture of predatory behavior in the waters off Cape Cod. The results will be used to inform management plans for this species of conservation concern and will also provide valuable, science-based information to support ongoing efforts to mitigate the growing potential for shark-human conflict in the region.

The latest peer reviewed publications:

• An open spatial capture−recapture framework for estimating the abundance and seasonal dynamics of white sharks at aggregation sites

• Conflict with rebounding populations of marine predators: Management preferences of three stakeholder groups on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

• Conservation implications of white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) behaviour at the northern extent of their range in the Northwest Atlantic

• Fine-scale vertical habitat use of white sharks at an emerging aggregation site and implications for public safety

• Using reproductive hormone concentrations from the muscle of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias to evaluate reproductive status in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

AWSC’s Data Policy >>

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is a founding member of the New England White Shark Research Consortium.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is a collaborator on the following studies:

Fine-scale shallow water movements of white sharks on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. B. Legare (CCS), G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC), Cape Cod National Seashore

Human Dimensions of Rebounding Seal and Shark Populations on Cape Cod. J. Jackman (Salem Sate), O. Nichols (CCS), L. Sette (CCS), S. Wood (UMass Boston), M. Sanderson (CCCFA), S. Sykes (CCCFA), C. Wigren (AWSC), M. Winton (AWSC), M. Walsh (AWSC), A. Rutberg (Tufts), S. Dowling-Guyer (Tufts)

Quantifying pinniped predation rates of white sharks off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to mitigate conservation conflicts. G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC), N. Whitney (NEAq), S. Macpherson (UNE)

Distribution of the white shark in Atlantic Canadian waters. H. Bowlby (DFO), W. Joyce (DFO), G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC)

Broadscale movements of white sharks along the east coast of North America. G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC)

Habitat use of white sharks in Cape Cod Bay. G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC)

Development and testing of a near real-time white shark forecast system for Cape Cod, Massachusetts. M. Winton (AWSC), G. Skomal (DMF)

Movements of white sharks tagged off South Carolina. G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC)

Towards an automated approach for identifying white sharks from underwater video footage. C. Rillahan (SMAST), M. Winton (AWSC), G. Skomal (DMF)

Integrating telemetry data to improve population estimates for white sharks. M. Winton (AWSC), G. Skomal (DMF), G. Fay (SMAST)

Growth Rates. G. Skomal (DMF), M. Winton (AWSC), C. Rillahan (SMAST)

Learn more about the DMF/AWSC collaboration >>

AWSC is providing funding and/or in-kind support on the following studies:

Stable Isotope Analysis of Northwest Atlantic White Sharks

S. Thorrold (WHOI), G. Skomal (DMF)

Population Structure and Genetics

G. Naylor (UF), G. Skomal (DMF)