A new short film is out that chronicles the interactions between great white sharks and other pinnipeds in the Monterey Bay area.
The Monterey Bay White Shark Project is an interdisciplinary research program involving scientists from Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and the University of Washington.
Together, the team is using cutting-edge technologies including electronic tags, genomics, environmental DNA, drones and ecological as well as oceanographic models to study the interactions of white sharks, sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals.
Understanding where sharks live and reproduce is critical for informing policies aimed at protecting these vital marine predators. By identifying key habitats and breeding grounds, scientists can provide policymakers with the necessary information to designate marine protected areas and implement conservation measures in regions crucial for the sharks’ survival.
The California Current, found along the western coast of North America, is a resilient ecosystem that’s holding up well despite humans exploiting resources worldwide. This area is rich in nutrients brought up from the deep ocean and has a diversity of marine life like sharks, seals, sea lions, tunas, whales, albatrosses, and sea turtles.
Pinnipeds, such as seals and sea lions, are integral to the California Current ecosystem, feeding on diverse prey like coastal pelagic fishes and cephalopods. Their survival and reproductive success are closely linked to oceanographic and climate factors, as changes in upwelling, ocean temperatures and productivity can alter the distribution and availability of their prey within this dynamic marine environment.
Check out the Monterey Bay White Shark Project’s film below.
