Marine CSI

Meet Mego Mako Shark Freyja!

Mega Mako Shark Freyja is a mature female mako shark that was satellite tagged by Keith Poe off the coast of Southern California on July 19th. Our satellite tags are attached to the dorsal fin and send real time tracking data via satellite allowing us to track these sharks for anywhere from months to years! This tracking data allows us to better understand the movement patterns of mature female mako sharks. All of this information is important in the management and conservation of this endangered species. You can follow this movement of this shark on the app Expedition White Shark.

2023 Guadalupe Island White Shark Photo-ID Book!

UPDATE: The 2023 Guadalupe Island White Shark Field Guide is sold out. If you would still like to order a copy please email [email protected] to be added to a wait list, if there is enough interest we will print additional copies.

In case you haven’t heard, Guadalupe Island is still closed for cage diving. We are all very sad to hear this news. It is currently not clear when the island will reopen, but in the meantime, since we are all missing seeing the Guadalupe Island sharks, we are getting ready to print the updated Guadalupe Island white shark photo-ID book. We had held off printing the updated book in 2022 with the hopes that things would be back to normal in 2023. The last Guadalupe Island white shark Photo-ID guide printed was in 2021 and contained 380 identified sharks. Following the 2021 shark season, the database now has another 74 new sharks to add to that, bringing the total number of sharks in the database to 454. For anyone who named Guadalupe Island white sharks in 2021, they will be in the new book! We plan to print a small batch, so quantities will be limited. Please note that this will be the last printed edition of the Guadalupe Island white shark photo identification guide until Guadalupe Island reopens to the public.go to https://www.marinecsi.org/sponsor-a-shark/photo-id-book/

All MCSI T-Shirts 25% off!

All MCSI t-shirts and sweatshirts are now 25% off! This includes MCSI shark t-shirts, I love Lucy t-shirts, and Rare Hawaiian Great White honey t-shirts and sweatshirts. check out https://www.marinecsi.org/t-shirts-and-hoodies/

 

Nat Geo SharkFest 2022: Counting Jaws

Have you been wondering about the number of Great White Sharks off the California coast? If so, you will not want to miss Counting Jaws which highlights the Southern California and Guadalupe Island white shark research of Marine Conservation Science Institute’s Michael Domeier, Nicole Nasby-Lucas and Keith Poe along with our longtime collaborator Dr Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki . We promise you will not be disappointed by this 100% legitimate presentation of real shark science! Available July 12th on Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, and all Disney platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, ABC, and ESPN.

Expedition White Shark app

MCSI has now updated the Expedition White Shark app and it is available for both Android and Apple! This app shows tracks for all of our tagged sharks and provides real time tracking data for white sharks tagged at both Guadalupe Island and central California, as well as large shortfin mako sharks tagged in southern California.

 

Joshua’s amazing journey

Joshua, a 15 foot male Guadalupe Island white shark was SPOT tagged in December of 2016. Since then he has made a surprising trek offshore and then up along the coast of northern California and then traveling back down south! You can follow his amazing journey with the app Expedition White Shark! The app is currently available for Apple products.

Gill Rakers’ amazing journey

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Guadalupe Island female white shark Gill Rakers was SPOT tagged in December of 2012. Since then she has made an amazing journey up along the coasts of California and Oregon, back offshore and then into the Sea of Cortez during the known pupping season where it is presumed she went to give birth!

 

 

New publication reveals the 2-year migration for adult female white sharks in the northeastern Pacific

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MCSI has published a new scientific paper that reveals the multi-year migratory patterns of four tagged female white sharks Amy, Kimel, Annika and Tailscratch. These sharks spent about 15 months in the middle of the Pacific ocean before traveling to the coast of Baja Mexico during the known pupping season. Amy and Kimel traveled into the Sea of Cortez while Annika and Tailscratch went to the Pacific coast of Baja. For more information see “Two-year migration of adult female white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) reveals widely separated nursery areas and conservation concerns”

MCSI develops new methods for tagging adult white sharks

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Scientists at MCSI have been working to improve methods for SPOT tagging adult great white sharks. New methods developed, tested and implemented by MCSI involve a device to prevent gut hooking, soft fishing gear to prevent skin abrasions and constant forward movement to fully irrigate the gills. Sharks tagged in this manner, including the largest white shark to ever be SPOT tagged, were far more vigorous upon release than our previous method that lifted the sharks from the water. We strive to constantly improve our methods to do what is best for the sharks and the scientific community.

The Marine Conservation Science Institute (MCSI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. MCSI is founded on the belief that focused research can make a difference in how we view and manage our marine resources. We are committed to working towards the goal of sustainable fisheries and a healthy marine environment for future generations to enjoy.