James Sulikowski takes 鈥榃CSH鈥 on a shark research trip

James Sulikowski and two graduate students recently took WCSH along on a shark research trip
James Sulikowski and two graduate students recently took WCSH along on a shark research trip

There has been a lot of attention focused on sharks lately, with more of them being spotted off the coast of New England.

New data picked up by acoustic receivers set up off the Maine coast by James Sulikowski, Ph.D., professor of marine sciences, indicate an increased presence of white sharks in the area. 

A television crew from   wanted to learn more about research Sulikowski and his students are conducting.

Sulikowski told WCSH the data gathered is used for better management and conservation efforts.

鈥淲orking with other management entities, like the National Marine Fisheries Service, it鈥檚 geared towards better management of the species and conserving it," said Sulikowski. "It allows our commercial fisherman to fish and the sharks can still live in their habitat.鈥

Sulikowski, two 新香港六合彩资料 graduate students and the WCSH crew recently boarded the research vessel Sharkology and traveled about 15 miles off the coast of Biddeford.

The goal of the researchers is to attach satellite tracking devices on the sharks to trace their movements.

鈥淚t鈥檚 part of what the university is all about, learning and teaching," Sulikowski explained.

Sulikowski's shark research was also recently featured on and .

鈥淓very year we鈥檙e seeing more and more sightings,鈥 he told 207. 鈥淲e think a lot of it is food sources. Cape Cod has a large seal population and there鈥檚 a lot of white sharks down there. We have a lot of seals up here too and it looks like we have everything those white sharks want.鈥

Sulikowski says he will continue making research trips into December, before starting them up again the spring.

James Sulikowski chats with WCSH's Clay Gordon before boarding research vessel
James Sulikowski chats with WCSH's Clay Gordon before boarding research vessel