A team of researchers at a newly established field station on an island off Nova Scotia’s South Shore is working to enhance understanding of white sharks in the region. Led by Nigel Hussey, a professor at the University of Windsor, the team utilizes various tracking technologies to monitor the movements of white sharks. In their inaugural year, the researchers tagged 16 white sharks along the Nova Scotia coast, with plans to launch the 2026 tagging expedition this weekend.
The field station has introduced its own tracking system, enabling the public to follow the sharks tagged in 2025 and those tagged in the upcoming 2026 expedition. However, challenges arise from Canada’s permitting system for studying these animals. Hussey expressed the need for improved organizational support to handle white shark research effectively in Atlantic Canada.
The Tancook Islands Marine Field Station was established by Hussey and his wife, Anna, following Hussey’s involvement in a tagging expedition by Ocearch in Atlantic Canada in 2018. Initially skeptical about finding enough sharks for the expedition, Hussey’s perception changed when they discovered a significant presence of white sharks in the region, prompting the establishment of a research base in Nova Scotia.
Key questions that the field station aims to address include migration patterns, aggregation areas, population size, and ecological impact of white sharks in the area. By employing various tagging methods, including satellite tags, the researchers are gaining valuable insights into white shark movements. Hussey anticipates that by the end of the summer, they will identify preliminary white shark hotspots in Atlantic Canada.
However, navigating the permitting system poses challenges for the research efforts. Due to the federal listing of white sharks as an endangered species, scientists require special permits from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to work with them. The annual permit application process, coupled with uncertainties about permit arrival, complicates logistical planning for the researchers.
Hussey highlighted the limitations within the permits, such as restrictions on scientific research locations that do not align with white shark habitats. These factors hinder the establishment of a comprehensive long-term monitoring program essential for understanding white sharks in Atlantic Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada spokesperson Christine Lyons emphasized the department’s commitment to evaluating applications based on a precautionary approach, with decisions typically made within 90 days.
Once operational, the field station aims to not only foster the next generation of scientists but also benefit the local community. David Baker, a Tancook resident and lobster fisherman, has been assisting the research team in deploying acoustic receivers along the coast. He emphasized the positive impact of the field station on the community, especially amid declining fishing activity. Plans to expand the station with an education center open to the public reflect a broader vision for community involvement and potential economic growth on the island.