Recent research indicates that one-third of shark species are at risk of extinction, raising alarms among conservationists and scientists alike. A strong, bipartisan solution to this urgent problem is taking shape. It fuses both artificial intelligence (AI) and citizen science through a partnership project. Scientists are harnessing the passion of citizens and the power of new technology. Their mission is to fill the voids in data that are key for understanding shark habitats, populations and trends.
The need for such initiatives is urgent. The picture has long been one of scientists hampered by a dearth of essential baseline information needed for smart conservation approaches. Mobilizing AI & citizen science AI and citizen science joined forces with creative new strategies to produce real-time data. This innovative collaboration not only allows us to discover new shark hotspots, but guides global conservation priorities. This method is a game changer in keeping track of our shark populations. It further underpins evaluations by The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
Uncovering Shark Hotspots
AI and citizen science have joined forces to identify new shark hotspots. This includes stunning discoveries of white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea! This breakthrough demonstrates the incredible power of technology to change how researchers accumulate and process data on these fascinating yet fleeting creatures.
“SharkPulse taps into this unprecedented global stream of images and videos, using AI and data science to passively monitor shark populations at a scale never before possible,” said Jeremy Jenrette, a scientist actively involved in the project.
Through the collective contributions of citizen scientists, researchers are able to create massive datasets that would have otherwise gone unaccounted for. This flexible statistical paradigm allows us to produce distribution maps and monitor trends in abundance over time. We can keep modifying them with fresh data as it becomes available.
“This is about creating an always-on pulse monitor for the ocean,” explained conservationist Ferretti. “The more we see, the more we can do to protect.”
The Case of Bull Sharks in Chesapeake Bay
Here in Virginia, for instance, bull sharks are officially acknowledged as summertime visitors in the Chesapeake Bay. Almost nothing is known about their movements or population size in this corridor. The lack of basic, key data makes it impossible to conserve these raptorial birds, or even to take appropriate protective action.
On that August day in 2018, a Menhaden fisher named Dr. In the process, he made an amazing catch, landing and photographing a tremendous 2.6-meter bull shark off Cedar Point in St. Mary’s County. This amazing experience highlights the critical role of community involvement in helping us better understand and monitor shark populations.
“With cameras in nearly everyone’s hands, our encounters with the ocean are being recorded more than ever,” Jenrette noted, emphasizing the role of citizen involvement in marine conservation.
The ongoing project aims to integrate these local records into a broader scientific framework, ultimately enhancing understanding of bull shark habits in the Chesapeake Bay.
Global Efforts and Conservation Challenges
The threats to shark conservation stretch well beyond our shores. Evidence indicates that nearly 60% of critical, identified habitats for sharks fall outside of protected areas. This troubling trend calls for more and improved conservation efforts urgently. As many shark species continue to face threats from habitat loss, overfishing, and climate change, innovative solutions become increasingly vital.
Scientists just returned from a historic Mediterranean expedition. They had the amazing success of tagging a juvenile shortfin mako shark, the first time this species has ever been tagged in the region! This milestone is a major step forward in understanding the range and distribution of this endangered species.
Instead, while whale watching in Monterey Bay, they elicited a very different sighting of a basking shark. Remarkably, this shark was tracked swimming the equivalent of more than 750 miles in just 54 days. These kinds of discoveries are excellent examples of the mobility of these species, but they highlight the need for broader and deeper tracking efforts.
“SharkPulse is built around this kind of records,” Ferretti stated. “The platform gives us a way to collect and organize fugitive local information and transform them into scientific knowledge.”