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White Shark

Permits for White Shark Research

The Farallones Sanctuary issues permits to research teams studying white sharks in the sanctuary in order to obtain information about the local population that will enable improved management and conservation of this species.


The external linkTagging of Pacific Predators, led by Dr. Barbara Block of Stanford University received a 2.3-year sanctuary permit in 2009 (24KB PDF; September 24, 2009 - December 31, 2011).


external linkMarine Conservation Science Institute, led by Dr. Michael Domeier received a 1-year sanctuary permit in 2009 (24KB PDF; October 1, 2009 - October 1, 2010).

Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and California Department of Fish and Game issued permits for Dr. Domeier to obtain information on the full migratory cycle of white sharks. Understanding where these sharks go when they leave the sanctuary each season will help resource managers protect white shark foraging, breeding and pupping sites.


The study was designed to track the movements of females during their years of absence from the sanctuary to identify their pupping and nursery regions. The broad-range, multi-year data expected from the study is unique, new information that has not been provided by other white shark research projects in the sanctuary. Prior to work in the Gulf of the Farallones, Dr. Domeier had used the hook, capture, tag and release technique successfully on 11 adult white sharks off Guadalupe Island, Mexico, and four juvenile white sharks off southern California. An additional six adult white sharks have been similarly tagged off Guadalupe Island without incident since the two sharks were tagged in the Gulf of the Farallones.