If you recreate in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, you may be sharing the water with one of the most iconic apex predators in the world, the white shark. Rather than being feared, they should be better understood for their critical role in the ocean.

The sanctuary is an important destination for adult white sharks along the Eastern Pacific. After spending winter and spring in an open ocean area known as the White Shark Café — halfway between Hawaii and Baja and the size of Colorado — many white sharks migrate to the California coast in late summer and early fall to feast on their primary food source: energy-rich marine mammals.

We have also noticed in recent years that juvenile white sharks from Southern California nursery areas are migrating up to warm water in Monterey Bay during the summer months, such as found near the Cement Ship in Aptos, to feed on fish and grow.

Adult shark consumption of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) is crucial to upholding the delicate balance of prey populations, a key indicator of healthy ocean ecosystems. Although white sharks play a vital role in the marine food web, many unknowns about these majestic creatures remain.

Why do adults migrate to the Shark Café, a seemingly nutrient-poor area? What are the behavior patterns of the sharks gathered there?

In 2024, the Monterey Bay White Sharks project was launched to advance our understanding of the local white shark population. The project is a collaboration involving scientists from Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, UC Santa Cruz, University of Washington, and the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS).

According to Dr. Jason Scorse of MIIS, the project “brings together the top white shark and pinniped researchers on the Central Coast to answer some of the key questions that we still don’t have answers to about these incredible predators.” Utilizing drones, tagging systems and eDNA (environmental DNA released into the water) analysis, researchers collect real-time data on shark and pinniped movements and diving behaviors, revealing patterns previously unknown to science.

As a result, we also get fascinating stories about individual characteristics of white sharks. Each shark’s dorsal fin has a unique, distinctive shape with notches and ridges used for photo identification.

“Yellowstone,” a mature male shark estimated to be 13 feet long, was first tagged in 2019. He has returned to the seasonal aggregation at Año Nuevo Island every year since, seeking pinniped prey. This past season, an upgraded satellite tag was deployed on Yellowstone that will help unlock the mysteries of his offshore movements, possibly to the Shark Café.

Other well-known individual shark profiles, such as “Pizza Face,” “Lawrence” and “Adriatic,” a sub-adult female with large scars on her head, are featured on Monterey Bay White Sharks social media (@montereybaywhitesharks).Beginning World Ocean Day on Sunday, the Sanctuary Exploration Center, located at 35 Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz, will host a year-long screening of the new Monterey Bay White Sharks short film, created by local filmmaker Kip Evans. The film gives viewers an insight into how researchers work to track shark and pinniped interactions and movements.

Also, the Exploration Center will showcase a new shark art exhibition throughout the month of June, featuring local white shark portraits from Cal State Monterey Bay Science Illustration Program artists.

“Understanding where sharks feed and reproduce is critical for informing policies aimed at protecting these vital marine predators,” said Scorce. “The new film, website, and exhibition at the center will help bridge the gap between scientific research, the arts, and a greater appreciation for these majestic creatures.”

Visit montereybaywhitesharks.org for information.

Superintendent Lisa Wooninck and her staff at NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary conduct research, education and resource protection in one of most biodiverse marine protected areas in the world. Learn about new and exciting stories by the sanctuary within these articles. Wooninck can be reached at lisa.wooninck@noaa.gov. To learn more about the sanctuary, visit montereybay.noaa.gov.