CT River Lecture Series – New England’s Great White Sharks and Growing Seal Population, with Jon Dodd

The Great White Shark is an iconic species that is known throughout the world. With females needing to reach the age of 30 or more before they can reproduce, it’s a species that needs to be protected, consistently assessed, and researched. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the White Shark is considered vulnerable with a worldwide population that is decreasing. This discussion will focus on the white shark research that the ASI has been conducting in Rhode Island and surrounding waters, as well as the growing population of seals that has caught the attention of the ASI team and research partners. We will also discuss the presence of sharks in our ecosystem, why they are important, the tagging methodology used in this research, and more.

Jon Dodd is the executive director of the Atlantic Shark Institute. He has also worked as a staff volunteer for the NMFS Apex Predator Investigation, holds an Advanced Open Water Dive Certification and is a Fellow of the prestigious Explorers Club, NY, NY.