SHARKPROJECT News.

Today we are sharing something that is changing the way scientists monitor endangered sharks.

Researchers are now able to detect critically endangered shark species from nothing more than a water sample. By analysing environmental DNA shed by sharks as they move through the ocean, scientists can confirm presence without ever seeing, catching, or disturbing a single animal.

Three recent studies demonstrate just how powerful this tool has become. In the Chagos Archipelago, eDNA metabarcoding revealed ten elasmobranch species from water samples alone, including a devil ray potentially never before recorded in the area. In Colombia, species-specific assays detected three critically endangered hammerhead sharks inside a national park, two of which hadn’t been seen for a long time. And in the Mediterranean, researchers used particle drift modeling to trace where critically endangered white sharks had been up to 128 hours before the sample was even collected.

This science matters because for species too rare to survey by conventional means, eDNA may be the only realistic way to generate the data that informs protection measures.

The full breakdown of all three studies is in our carousel above, with citations on the bottom left side. If you would like to get more information, check out the papers!

DOI 1: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac014
DOI 2: doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1688088
DOI 3: doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2023.s1.28

🌊 Better data means better protection for the sharks
#SharkConservation #MarineScience #EndangeredSharks #OceanConservation #Sharkproject ...

Today we are sharing an incredible new scientific discovery.
Researchers have confirmed the first documented whale shark movement between Madagascar and Seychelles, showing that these gentle giants travel more than 1,200 km across national boundaries.

A juvenile male first recorded off Nosy Be (Madagascar) in 2019 was resighted in Mahé (Seychelles) in 2025, providing rare evidence that whale sharks in the western Indian Ocean form a shared transboundary population.
This finding highlights how important international collaboration and long-term monitoring are for understanding and protecting endangered species.

The discovery was made possible through collaboration between the Madagascar Whale Shark Project and the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles.
The Madagascar Whale Shark Project is supported by Sharkproject, helping advance research and conservation for the world’s largest fish.

Protecting them requires cooperation across borders, just like the journey of this incredible shark.
If you would like to support conservation efforts like this, consider donating to Sharkproject.

🌊 Together we can protect whale sharks.
#WhaleShark #MarineConservation #OceanConservation #SharkScience #sharkproject ...

Today we’re sharing some new scientific shark news 🦈 A recent study suggests there may be potential seasonal mating aggregations of tiger sharks in Hawaiʻi, giving us new insight into when and where these incredible animals gather. Such aggregations haven’t been previously documented before, but this paper shows that mating and food might be the causes for these gatherings. Understanding these patterns is key for better protection and conservation planning.

If you want to find out more you can take a look at the original scientific publication DOI: :10.1038/s41598-025-27742-y

#sharkproject #scienceforsharks #protectsharks #tigershark #hawaii ...