The citizen science and satellite tag data indicates that these sharks may use large expanses of the Pacific Ocean as critical habitat. (Do you want to join the cause? Find more information here.) Over time, this will allow migration patterns to surface, and along the way, the public can gain knowledge and awareness about the ocean, its threats and the fascinating creatures that call it home. Non-scientists can report basking shark sightings and, as a result, researchers are able to gain further knowledge on the occurrence and movements of these sharks. This multi-faceted project includes satellite tagging the fish, in addition to an educational and outreach component to raise public awareness and broaden the base of citizen scientists. This is part of a tri-national program with Canadian and Mexican colleagues. Given the lack of knowledge of this species along the Pacific coast, a collaborative project was initiated in 2010 between the Pacific Shark Research Center (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories) and NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center to investigate the abundance, distribution and population status of basking sharks. This explains why they are rarely, if ever, seen in the tropics. As they move into warm temperate and tropical seas, they dive to cooler waters, often several hundred meters below the surface. The distribution of these sharks changes seasonally with their abundance, shifting from higher to lower latitudes in the autumn and winter months. This charismatic shark species is the second largest (up to 30 feet or more!) in the world and has a large range-from high latitude seas, including Arctic waters, to lower latitudes including the tropics. The IUCN lists the basking shark ( Cetorhinus maximus) as vulnerable globally, but in the eastern North Pacific it is listed as endangered. The project continues to be very active, and you can still get involved! Happy Shark Week! For our last shark celebration post, we revisit this basking shark article, originally posted four years ago.
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