A new research facility on an island off Nova Scotia’s South Shore is conducting studies to enhance our understanding of white sharks in the area. Located at the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station on Big Tancook Island, a team of graduate and undergraduate students, led by Professor Nigel Hussey from the University of Windsor, Ontario, is utilizing various tracking technologies to monitor the movements of white sharks.
In their inaugural year of operations, the team tagged 16 white sharks along the Nova Scotia coast, with plans to launch the 2026 tagging expedition this weekend. The field station has introduced its own tracker, allowing the public to follow the sharks tagged in 2025 and those to be tagged in 2026.
However, navigating Canada’s permitting system for working with these animals presents challenges, according to the station’s founder. Hussey emphasized the need for organizations equipped to handle white sharks in Atlantic Canada promptly.
The Tancook Islands Marine Field Station, established by Hussey and his wife, Anna, stemmed from Hussey’s participation in a tagging expedition by Ocearch in Atlantic Canada in 2018. The expedition initially seemed improbable due to the rarity of white sharks in Atlantic Canadian waters historically.
This led to the establishment of a research base in Nova Scotia to study the sharks while they are present in the region. Key questions remain unanswered, such as migration corridors, congregation spots, population size, and ecosystem impact of the sharks.
The field station aims to address these queries using various tagging methods, including satellite tags. With the deployment of a new satellite system last summer, Hussey anticipates that they will soon provide an initial evaluation of white shark hot spots in Atlantic Canada by the end of the summer.
Despite these advancements, Hussey highlighted the complexities posed by the permitting system for conducting research on white sharks. Due to their endangered status, scientists must obtain special permits from Fisheries and Oceans Canada annually, a process that was pending ahead of the 2026 expedition.
Concerns were also raised regarding the broad application of permits encompassing diverse activities, ranging from commercial cage diving to scientific research. The current permitting framework does not align with the specific needs of various activities, complicating the establishment of a comprehensive long-term monitoring program for white sharks in Atlantic Canada.
In response, a spokesperson from DFO stated that permit applications undergo individual assessments and are typically processed within 90 days, with clear criteria established for conducting white shark research activities.
Once permits are secured, the field station can contribute to nurturing future scientists and benefitting the community. David Baker, a local lobster fisherman and Tancook resident, expressed gratitude for the field station, emphasizing its positive impact on the community and the local economy.
Future plans for the field station include expanding to include an education center for public learning about sharks, potentially influencing the island’s economic growth trajectory.
By addressing the challenges posed by permitting regulations and leveraging research opportunities, the field station endeavors to deepen our knowledge of white sharks in Atlantic Canada and engage the local community in conservation efforts.
