OCEARCH researchers studying sharks off North Carolina coast

MOREHEAD CITY, NC (WWAY/WCTI) — OCEARCH is an organization that tags, tracks and researches sharks, and on Friday the OCEARCH Shark Tracker showed a 126-foot, 581-ton ping near Morehead City.

It’s the M/V OCEARCH vessel, a repurposed Bering Sea crabber with a spacious forward deck to accommodate researchers and their subjects.

The organization is collaborating with 42 scientists from 28 research institutions to collect data for 23 science projects.

OCEARCH is embarking on our 40th ocean research expedition!

Together, we’re collaborating with 42 scientists from 28 research
institutions, to enable the collection of data for 23 science projects.

Learn more:https://t.co/DCSlQD9uj0#FactsOverFear #GreatWhiteSharks #40th pic.twitter.com/i8oj8tHetF

— OCEARCH (@OCEARCH) March 8, 2021

See the full scientific report detailing the research projects here.

“This stretch of the Carolina coast is not one we’ve explored before, but it’s clear from our tracking studies that it’s a critical overwintering site for NW Atlantic white sharks of all life stages,” researchers said. “We’ve seen adult white sharks of both sexes come together here, and some mature females then head offshore. Could this be when and where they’re mating?”

Researchers said the area is a dynamic confluence of currents and water temperatures producing high productivity and potential food sources for the sharks, and why they prefer this region is one question they are trying to answer.

Read more here.