The Monterey Bay White Shark Project – Tracking Predators and Prey

The white shark populations of the eastern Pacific have been studied for over two decades, yet fundamental questions regarding predator-prey dynamics, population trends, and juvenile recruitment remain unanswered. In 2023, the multi-institutional Monterey Bay White Shark Project was established to comprehensively investigate this system using integrated methodologies. We use electronic tags on sharks and pinnipeds, aerial drones, environmental DNA, genome sequencing, underwater video, and artificial intelligence to examine predator-prey interactions, monitor behavior, investigate long-term movement patterns, and assess population trends. A coastal acoustic receiver array, monthly drone surveys, and long-term camera traps at pinniped colonies track how prey availability influences shark distribution. Pairing eDNA with biopsy sampling characterizes shark-pinniped relationships while capturing genetic variation to estimate abundance. Computer vision algorithms assess body condition and semi-automate re-identification among over 1000 individual sharks through dorsal fin morphology. This integrated approach advances understanding of ecosystem dynamics and informs evidence-based conservation strategies.