At a new research facility on an island near Nova Scotia’s South Shore, scientists are working to gather more information about white sharks in the area. Located at the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station on Big Tancook Island, a group of twelve graduate and undergraduate students, under the guidance of Nigel Hussey, a professor at the University of Windsor, is employing various tracking technologies to monitor the movements of white sharks.
In their inaugural year of operation, the team tagged 16 white sharks along the Nova Scotia coast. The 2026 tagging expedition is set to commence this weekend. The field station has introduced its own tracking system, allowing the public to track sharks tagged in 2025 and those that will be tagged in 2026.
However, the station’s founder expressed challenges due to Canada’s permitting process for studying these animals. Hussey emphasized the need to establish appropriate organizations to handle white sharks in Atlantic Canada efficiently.
The Tancook Islands Marine Field Station, established by Hussey and his wife Anna, originated after Hussey participated in a tagging expedition by Ocearch in Atlantic Canada in 2018. Initially skeptical about finding enough sharks for the expedition to be worthwhile, Hussey’s perspective changed as they discovered a significant number of white sharks in the region.
This discovery led to the establishment of a research hub in Nova Scotia to study these animals while they are present. The team aims to uncover critical information such as migration patterns, congregation areas, population estimates, and ecological impacts of white sharks.
Through the utilization of diverse tagging methods, including satellite tags, the field station is gradually gaining insights into white shark movements. Hussey anticipates providing an initial assessment of white shark hotspots in Atlantic Canada by the end of the summer.
Despite their progress, Hussey highlighted the challenges posed by the permitting system for conducting this research. As white sharks are federally classified as an endangered species, researchers need special permits from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to work with them. The current permit conditions, especially restrictions on research locations, hinder the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring program necessary for understanding white sharks in Atlantic Canada fully.
DFO spokesperson Christine Lyons mentioned that permit applications undergo individual assessments and are typically processed within 90 days. The department follows clear and consistent criteria based on the best available information and a precautionary approach for white shark research activities.
Once operational, the field station aims not only to foster the next generation of scientists but also to benefit the local community. David Baker, a longtime lobster fisherman and Tancook resident, has been assisting the research team by deploying acoustic receivers along the coast. Baker expressed gratitude for the station’s presence, highlighting its importance for the community and the declining fishing industry.
Looking ahead, Hussey plans to expand the field station by establishing an education center for public learning about sharks. This initiative is expected to contribute to the island’s future development and economic growth.
The Tancook Islands Marine Field Station stands as a vital asset in unraveling the mysteries surrounding white sharks in Atlantic Canada, despite the regulatory hurdles that researchers face.
