EXPEDITION SOUTHBOUND Become a Shark Hero NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 14
EXPEDITION BRIEF

White sharks are southbound! OCEARCH is embarking on our 44th ocean research expedition to learn more about these animals as they migrate to the southeast of the United States for their winter residency. This will be our first time in this region during this timeframe and we’re hoping to better understand what factors are bringing the sharks here and where they are in their reproductive cycle.

Our dedicated and collaborative team has successfully tagged 84 white sharks throughout the western North Atlantic, collecting data for over 25 science projects that have enabled us to put together the pieces of the life history puzzle of the white shark in the western North Atlantic ocean. Our puzzle is nearly solved, with just 16 sharks left to reach our goal of 100 sharks sampled, tagged and released in this region. Expedition Southbound takes place from November 28 – December 14. Explore in real time with us @OCEARCH. Become a Shark Hero to get exclusive benefits. Learn More Here.

READ SCIENCE BRIEF
EXPEDITION STATS

17

DAYS AT SEA

24

RESEARCH PROJECTS

4

ANIMALS SAMPLED

45

COLLABORATING SCIENTISTS

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EXPEDITION VIDEOS
COLLABORATIVE TEAM

EXPEDITION STEM ACTIVITIES

Explore with us at home with these interactive activities for grades K-12! Build Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills (STEM) as you participate virtually with our team of collaborative scientists and fishing crew. For more information, reach out to our education team at education@ocearch.org

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FAQ

What is the Western North Atlantic White Shark Study?

This project began in 2012 and has been called the “Western North Atlantic White Shark Study”. The purpose of this project is to solve the life history puzzle of the Western North Atlantic White Shark by gathering the appropriate data that would tell us where this population migrates, feeds, mates, gives birth and more.

What type of studies do you expect to run during this expedition?

This expedition supports 25 individual studies for 45 principal investigators from 30 research institutions. In addition to putting 3 tracking devices on the animals, researchers will take a number of tissue, blood and other samples to learn even more about white shark biology. These samples can be used to understand: the overall population health of white sharks in the Western North Atlantic, reproductive health, and even what types of antibiotics can be used if a human is bitten.

What type of samples do you expect to collect during this expedition?

The team will collect blood, mucus, parasites, muscle, fin clips, eye measurements, feces, urine, and semen, whenever possible. Ultrasound exams will also be performed on adult females to examine reproductive health.

Can you describe your process for tagging sharks?

Sharks are caught and guided to the platform using a handline. Once the sharks are on the platform and hoses of water have been set to enable the flow of oxygen, they are tagged and sampled. The tagging, handling and sampling procedures employed during the expedition follow the standards of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC.org) of each institution, which is made up of scientists and veterinarians.

Will the sample collection impact the sharks health?

While the tagging method, which has been used on sharks and other species for over a half-century may cause some level of brief discomfort, there is no scientific evidence that it impacts their behavior or survival post-release. In fact, data from the GLOBAL SHARK TRACKER™ provides strong evidence that the animals tagged using this method show long-term survival and long-distance migrations indicative of normal function and reproductive cycles.

What does the data from the OCEARCH Tracker tell us about sharks?

The data allows us to see the range of shark movements in different parts of the world -their migration patterns – and helps us uncover the areas in need of protection. The tracking data allows studies such as the examination of fine and broad-scale movements, habitat use, site fidelity, residency, and feeding behavior of white sharks. The data we’ve enabled so far has allowed scientists to figure out the mating and breeding sites of the species on the west coast of Mexico – Guadalupe Island. Scientists have also documented the first migration of Great White Sharks to the gulf and the mid-Atlantic ridge.

What happens to the data you've collected?

The data is shared in an open source environment with collaborating institutions that utilize it to conduct studies that are eventually published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The papers, which can take 2-5 years to publish, are used to assist in policy decisions. So far, there have been over 75 papers published based on OCEARCH expeditions and resulting studies.

How can I follow the expedition?

Follow OCEARCH on​​ Facebook​,​ ​Twitter​, Instagram (@OCEARCH), ​YouTube​ and TikTok for Expedition Atlantic Canada updates. You can also follow the sharks tagged during Expedition Atlantic Canada by accessing the near-real-time, free online OCEARCH GLOBAL SHARK TRACKER™​.

Who supports the expedition?

Costa Sunglasses, Rogue Sharks, SeaWorld, YETI Coolers, Ulysse Nardin, Blundstone, Cisco Brewers, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Jacksonville University, Landrys, Contender and individuals like you support the expedition through donations or making purchases in our online shop.

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