Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Inc
Awareness inspires conservation
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Despite the enormous scientific and public interest in white sharks, large gaps in our understanding of this species remain. Cape Cod has become an aggregation site for great white sharks, presenting a rare and incredible research opportunity. However, the inshore waters off many Cape Cod and South Shore beaches are preferred feeding grounds for white sharks, which presents a conflict with human use of these same areas. We leverage real-time science to inform public safety.
Equally, sharks are often misrepresented and misunderstood. AWSC is working to change that by providing shark education and outreach to school age children as well as the general public. Educating the community and engaging children in learning opportunities connects people to one of the keystone species in our ocean's ecosystem. Our programs not only help protect white sharks, they also provide information that helps people live harmoniously with nature.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Gills Club
Gills Club is Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's STEM-based education initiative dedicated to connecting girls with female scientists from around the world, sharing knowledge, and inspiring shark and ocean conservation.
Education Programs
Sharks are awesome, and tend to get a lot of attention in the media. However, they are often misrepresented and misunderstood. AWSC is working to change that by providing shark education and outreach to school age children as well as the general public. Educating the community and engaging children in learning opportunities connects people to one of the keystone species in our ocean’s ecosystem. Our programs not only help protect white sharks, they also provide information that helps people live harmoniously with nature.
White Shark Research
Despite the enormous scientific and public interest in white sharks, large gaps in our understanding of this species remain. Cape Cod has become an aggregation site for great white sharks, presenting a rare research opportunity.
2009-2018
In 2009, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) biologists, Dr. Greg Skomal and John Chisholm were the first to successfully tag and track great whites in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean using high tech tags.
Between 2009-2018, the DMF continued research on the movement ecology of white sharks along the coast of Massachusetts and beyond, and initiated a population study in 2014 to estimate the number of white sharks visiting Massachusetts. For the population study, DMF partnered with the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Since 2013, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) has provided funding and resources to support DMF’s research efforts.
2019-2023
In 2019, research scientist Megan Winton joined the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s team. Winton worked closely with Dr. Greg Skomal of the DMF on the white shark population study as part of her Ph.D. research at SMAST.
The next phase of white shark research, which will begin in the summer of 2019 and will be led by the DMF, will focus on white shark movement and behavior with a special emphasis on public safety. The research conducted over the next five years will consist of several different studies that all seek to improve upon and refine the answers provided by the research that's been conducted to date.
While efforts to study white shark habitat use and broad-scale movements will continue, a major objective is to document fine-scale movements to provide a more detailed picture of predatory behavior in the waters off Cape Cod. The results will be used to inform management plans for this species of conservation concern and will also provide valuable, science-based information that will be used to support ongoing efforts to mitigate the growing potential for shark-human conflict in the region.
Shark Center Outreach Facility
The AWSC Shark Center offers an in-depth look at one of the ocean's most magnificent and misunderstood species: the Great White Shark! Through interactive exhibits, videos, displays, and virtual reality experiences, the center offers many ways to learn about groundbreaking research and one of Cape Cod's most captivating summer residents.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Chatham, MA. The AWSC's mission is to support innovative white shark research, improve public safety, and serve as a conservation point-of-contact for the community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We use real-time science to increase our collective knowledge of white sharks, with the aim to preserve and protect the biologically diverse marine ecosystem of Cape Cod. Our collaborative nature also fosters a community-driven approach, and we work in partnership with several local, national, and international research institutes, non-profits, and educational facilities.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We serve Cape Cod residents and visitors directly at our Shark Center and have fostered a broader following through our education and outreach initiatives as well as media exposure in local, national, and international news. Our staff and board are exceptionally skilled in the fields of scientific communication, research, technology, and business management.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Lead: The Conservancy has been a leader in facilitating the study of white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic by intentionally building research collaborations with shark science experts.
Support: The Conservancy has supported multiple long-term research projects conducted by scientists from Canada to Florida that seek to enhance our understanding of white sharks, including a key population study that concluded in October 2018.
Advise: The Conservancy has worked with local, state and federal officials to ensure policies and measures related to public safety are made based on the best available scientific data.
Educate: Through our public education programs that reach thousands of young people each year, we provide science-based, hands-on learning opportunities that have lasting impact.
Inspire: Every season, thousands of Cape Cod residents and visitors from across the country learn about white shark research and shark conservation at our Shark Center in Chatham, MA.
Our future goals are to open a new shark center, expand our outreach programs, and fund innovative conservation-orientated research on white sharks along the eastern seaboard.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Inc
Board of directorsas of 12/13/2023
Susanna Beckwith
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: