Is There an App to Track Sharks Off Cape Cod?

AWSC Tags and Tracks Sharks in Cape Cod

How many sharks are sighted near Cape Cod?

In 2022 researchers from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Atlantic White Shark Conservancy tagged 31 white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod.

Last year’s tagging included 18 sea trips between July and early November. Data from this long term project - which has so far tagged 277 individual white sharks in Cape waters - sees sharks arriving earlier and leaving later and provided other insights into the apex predator's patterns.

Is there an APP to track shark sightings?

YES! The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Sharktivity App was developed with input from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Cape Cod National Seashore, and officials from Cape Cod and South Shore towns to raise awareness of the presence of white sharks off our coast.

The App sightings are fed by researchers, safety officials, and users that upload photos for confirmation. By enabling App users to report shark sightings and upload photos for confirmation, we are effectively crowd-sourcing critical data points on where sharks are spotted so as to reduce encounters and promote safety. Data from sharks with acoustic tags and Smart Position and Temperature Tags (SPOT) are also available on the APP.

Public sightings submitted through Sharktivity will be verified by the New England Aquarium.

Where is the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy?

The AWSC Shark Center is located in Chatham, MA. There, visitors can get an in-depth look at  the Great White Shark. At the Shark Center, which is open to the public seasonally, there are interactive exhibits, videos, displays, virtual reality experiences, and many other ways to learn.

Related Stories

• The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy hosted its 2023 annual media day at the Shark Center Chatham. We spoke to Education Director Marianne Walsh about the white shark research progress and free resources for the public, like the Sharktivity App and the White Shark Logbook. Learn More
• Join AWSC for an exciting on-the-water experience learning about white sharks, the Cape Cod ecosystem, and AWSC's research and conservation efforts! Aboard one of their vessels, you will get a one of a kind experience viewing wildlife, learning from an educated naturalist, and enjoying the local scenery. Learn More.