Many highly migratory shark species are key apex predators across marine ecosystems, yet are threatened by overshing, habitat degradation, and environmental change throughout their ranges

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $494,784 Cooperative Agreement to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on July 1, 2026, under the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Coastal Ocean Program (CFDA 11.478) to assess shark habitat utilization across U.S. Atlantic marine protected areas.

The project combines analysis of existing tagging datasets for seven shark species (white, sand tiger, sandbar, dusky, bull, blacktip, and spinner) with a novel dual-tagging approach using satellite and acoustic tags on three prohibited shark species (white, sand tiger, and dusky). The research will quantify annual visitation, residency, and connectivity patterns of each species across U.S. Atlantic National Marine Sanctuaries and other relevant marine protected areas; identify seasonal focal habitat areas and assess three-dimensional habitat selection and activity levels; determine alignment of focal areas with protected area boundaries; and establish threshold temperature preferences from tag data for each species. Results will support resource managers in evaluating the conservation value of current marine protected areas for vulnerable apex predator sharks and guide future spatial management in response to environmental change.

Work is performed in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.

In the U.S. Atlantic, sharks travel through national marine sanctuaries and various other marine protected areas (mpas), but the degree to which these conservation areas align with shark focal habitats has not been well-assessed. This project combines existing tagging datasets for seven shark species (white, sand tiger, sandbar, dusky, bull, blacktip, and spinner) and a novel high-resolution double-tagging approach (satellite and acoustic tags) on three prohibited shark species (white, sand tiger, and dusky) to better understand how much time shark species spend in mpas, and how they are utilizing this habitat. Specific objectives include: quantifying each species annual visitation, residency, and connectivity across all U.S. Atlantic coast national marine sanctuaries and other relevant mpas; identifying seasonal focal habitat areas, quantifying three-dimensional habitat selection and activity levels in these areas, and assessing alignment of focal areas with MPA boundaries; and identifying threshold temperature preferences from tag data for each species. Results will help quantify the relative value of current mpas to the conservation of vulnerable apex predatory sharks and be shared with resource managers to guide future spatial management eorts in a changing ocean.