LWYC Proudly Presents
(on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 10 am via Zoom)
How the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach is protecting both people and Sharks
Dr. Chris Lowe
Director, Shark Lab
California State University, Long Beach
With shark populations increasing there have been more and more sightings along Southern California beaches. The Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach has been using underwater robots for autonomously tracking shark populations and studying their behavior. Working with lifeguards from San Diego to Santa Barbara the Shark Lab tagged a record number of 53 great white sharks in 2020.
The Shark Lab works with local lifeguards to develop protocols for how to best advise the public when sharks are sighted. They do this not only to keep the people safe but to keep the sharks safe as well. The Shark Lab has worked hard over the past 20 years to bring shark populations back from being over fished. Sharks are very important animals in our marine ecosystems. They help keep marine mammal populations healthy and they also keep fish populations healthy. We must learn to share the oceans with them.
