Background:
White sharks are among the most iconic ocean predators, but in the Mediterranean Sea, their populations are critically endangered and poorly understood. Other large sharks in the region, such as the shortfin mako and porbeagle, face similar threats due to centuries of fishing and a lack of data. Researchers are now using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect traces of these elusive animals in the water, providing a powerful tool to monitor their presence and movement without direct sightings. Oceanographic modeling helps track how eDNA travels, while citizen scientists equipped with simple, cost-effective sampling kits play a key role in expanding data collection. This collaborative approach is essential to inform conservation strategies for the Mediterranean’s remaining white sharks.
Data Impact:
Expanding eDNA sampling across the Mediterranean Sea will provide critical insights into great white shark biology and ecology, including movements, migration routes, genetic diversity, and reproductive behaviors. These data can help fill long-standing knowledge gaps that have hindered effective conservation planning and are essential to prevent the extinction of white sharks and other large pelagic species, both in the Mediterranean and in other vulnerable regions around the world.
How to Participate:
For more information or to participate in this project, please email our Citizen Science Manager, Rosie Moore, at [email protected].
