- DISCOVERY Yacht Valkyrie
White Shark Research with Dr. Chris Lowe and the NBC Today Show
- July 8, 2026
- Carpinteria, California
Project Overview
The purpose of this research project has been to study a group of juvenile white sharks which have made Carpinteria Beach their home and nursery.
Application
This research can be used in the future to understand why sharks, at different life stages may aggregate in certain areas. They may be choosing to be close to shore to follow their prey with less competition, and/or to avoid being preyed upon by larger sharks. In terms of environmental parameters such as warmer temperatures, this too can be an indicator of why the juvenile white sharks choose certain beaches. Answering all these questions can help inform and predict future aggregation sites. This in turn can be used to bring awareness and education to the public about who they are sharing the waves with, how best to share the space, and maybe curb some of the fear associated with white sharks, and sharks in general.
Expedition Summary
On July 8th, 2026, The International SeaKeepers Society, aboard DISCOVERY Yacht Valkyrie, assisted Dr. Chris Lowe and his California State University Long Beach Shark Research Lab conduct field work just offshore of Carpinteria, California. The team was able to tag two juvenile white sharks with acoustic tags. Video survey data was also captured of 2 others using underwater GoPros. Three of the six sharks spotted that day were already tagged, showing just how much these particular juvenile white sharks have made this short stretch of the Southern California coast their home. They will likely become more pelagic, or free roaming in the open ocean as they grow.
Another important aspect of this outing is that a news team from NBC’s the Today’s Show were along for the ride, capturing the story of Dr. Lowe’s research, these resident juvenile sharks, and just how important it is to appreciate and protect marine species, rather than fear them.
Location
Carpinteria, California
Duration of Project
This outing was a day trip, though Dr. Lowe’s Lab has been researching juvenile great white sharks in this location since about 2021
Leadership
Research Team
- Research:
- Dr. Chris Lowe
- Emily Spurgion
- Delaney Sauer
- News Team:
- Liz Kreutz
- Xavier Rangel
- JB Rutagarama
Publications
Photo Gallery
