Marine Mammals & Sharks

As top predators in the Pacific, marine mammals, sharks, and tuna play a crucial role in the balance of ecosystems, the economics of commercial fisheries, and public safety in coastal waters. Work at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology with multiple mammal, shark, and tuna species continues to advance our understanding of these magnificent animals, as well as shape public perceptions and policy towards conservation, marine resource management, and human interactions with marine mammals and pelagic predators. Proximate to year-round marine mammal populations, shark nursery grounds, and the tuna-rich waters of the central Pacific, students and researchers within SOEST tag, track, and interact with these magnificent ocean predators on a daily basis.