A great white shark research expedition is set to take place this fall in using the recently established Tancook Islands Marine Field Station on Big Tancook Island as its base.
Led by Nigel Hussey from the University of Windsor, the project aims to study white shark movement, population demographics, and their role in the Atlantic Canadian ecosystem.
Hussey, inspired by his time in the Bahamas, developed the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station as a hands-on research hub for students and scientists.
The station will fully open next year, hosting up to 12 students for extended research terms focused on large predators and broader ecosystem studies.
Since 2018, increased shark activity has been noted in Canadian waters, with around 300 great white sharks tagged in the Atlantic from Florida to Newfoundland. Last year, acoustic receivers in Mahone Bay detected 100 of these sharks, underscoring the region’s growing importance for shark research.
The upcoming research will concentrate on understanding shark behaviour, including their habitats, population characteristics, and interactions within the local ecosystem.
