Tracking the Last Mediterranean White Sharks

Centuries of coastal fishing, and more recently, industrial exploitation have severely impacted this population, which, in the last few decades, has declined to very low levels of abundance. They were historically abundant and widely distributed in the region, and now they are critically endangered. We don’t know how many sharks are left and still know very little about their ecology and biology to protect them. 

 

Because they are scarce and have no aggregation areas similar to other regions, studying them in the field has always been challenging. To address this challenge, we started a multi-institutional monitoring program on white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea.

You can help support this project. Any amount is significant!

Yachts For Science: Sailing superyacht helps with ground-breaking shark research in the Mediterranean

“The Mediterranean White Sharks are among the least studied and the most endangered, they are critically endangered according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,” explains Ferretti. “We estimate that the population has declined by 80 per cent over the past few decades. The White Shark is a top predator with a very important ecological value.”

The conservation status of the white shark in the Mediterranean Sea

Watch the full interview with Dr. Francesco Ferretti

Marine Conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

Professor Francesco Ferretti and his scientific team will embark on a lengthy and unprecedented study to find and track the remaining White Sharks in the region. Photo credit: George Probst

How This 87-Foot Sailing Yacht Is Helping to Protect Endangered White Sharks

The yacht and its owners took a group of scientists to the Sicilian Channel to carry out vital research.

Research Team

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Francesco Ferretti

Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech

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Taylor Chapple

Assistant Professor, Oregon State

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James Glancy

Conservationist and Filmmaker

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Khaled Echwikhi

Professor, University of Gabès

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Sara Al Mabruk

Research Scientist, Marine Biology in Libya Society

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Robbie Schallert

Research Scientist, Stanford University

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Barbara Block

Professor, Stanford University

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David Curnick

Research Associate, Zoological Society of London

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Austin Gallagher

Chief Science Officer, Beneath the Waves

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Jeremy Jenrette

PhD Candidate, Virginia Tech

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Brendan Shea

PhD Candidate, Virginia Tech

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Stefano Moro

Postdoctoral Fellow, Statzione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

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Chiara Gambardella

PhD Student, Università Politecnica delle Marche

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Chiheb Lemsi

Masters Student, University of Gabes

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Maissa Chatti

PhD Student, University of Gabes

Hani Berriche

Masters Student, University of Gabes