We have collected and annotated what is without question the largest data set of aerial great white video footage ever compliled from sharks off the coast of Cape Cod. This data set may well be the largest single collection of this type of data anywhere in the world.
We have developed software to convert annotated videos to actual shark positions in latitude and longitude. This enables us to quantify fine scale movements and behavior in a manner that has never been done before.
Our research shows that great whites swim largely parallel to the shoreline for extended distances with movements between shallow nearshore waters and deeper offshore waters limited by comparison. These findings have immediate practical applications for the development and deployment of shark detection systems.
With the presentation of preliminary results from our study on nearshore great white behavior off the coast of Cape Cod we have firmly established ourselves as the leaders in nearshore shark behavior research in this region. This research is directly relevant to ocean safety and is long overdue.