December 1, 2020

Bryan Legare deploys acoustic receivers off Truro, MA.

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is partnering with researchers from several universities and federal, state, and private organizations to form the New England White Shark Research Consortium (NEWSRC).

The collaborators will use new and innovative technologies and research methods to study white sharks within the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Using the collective knowledge and resources of the group, the consortium will not only advance the current knowledge of the species, but also enhance public education and safety within this region.

This work includes an ongoing project led by CCS White Shark Habitat Research program manager, Bryan Legare. Legare has combined CCS’s cutting-edge seafloor mapping technology with existing shark-tagging and tracking work by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy to study the fine-scale movements of white sharks off two beaches in the Cape Cod National Seashore. The goal of the study is to understand how sharks behave in those locations – when, where and how they travel through and within the area – and pass that information on to town, state and federal officials so that they can determine how best to manage potential shark/human interactions and communicate that information to the public.

“The only way to truly understand the great white shark population is through direct collaboration between scientist, managers, and stakeholders throughout the region,” said Legare. “The combined expertise and experience of each institution is key to protecting this vulnerable species.”

NEWSRC includes scientists from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, the University of Massachusetts, the New England Aquarium, Arizona State University, the University of Maine, the Atlantic Shark Institute, the NOAA Fisheries Apex Predators Program, New Hampshire Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

For additional information, contact Bryan Legare at 508-487-3622 x 124

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