Free Zoom Webinar: Recovery of White Sharks off California and What This Means for Coastal Communities

Cost:Free, but registration is required: https://sbmm.org/santa-barbara-events/
Sponsored by: Marie L Morrisroe

Dr. Chris Lowe is a professor in marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where he and his students work with acoustic and satellite telemetry techniques to study the movement, behavior and physiology of sharks, rays, and gamefishes. For the last 15 years, Dr. Lowe and his students have been studying baby and juvenile white sharks off the coast of southern California and have greatly contributed to the field of knowledge for this enigmatic species. Using a wide array of technology, they have found that white sharks use southern California beaches seasonally as nursery habitat for their young. This brings juvenile white sharks in close proximity to beach goers. Dr. Lowe will discuss what they have learned about white shark behavior, risks they pose to beach goers and what coastal communities can expect in the future.

Dr. Lowe earned his Bachelor of Arts in marine biology at Barrington College in Rhode Island, a Master of Science degree in biology at CSULB, and a doctorate in zoology, studying bioenergetics of juvenile hammerhead sharks, at the University of Hawaii. In 1998, he returned to CSULB to teach marine biology and oversee the Shark Lab, which was founded in 1966 by Dr. Donald R. Nelson, a pioneer in the development and use of acoustic telemetry to study sharks. It has been Dr. Lowe’s goal to maintain the history of innovation Dr. Nelson established. In addition, recent research by Dr. Lowe and his student team has focused on the development of underwater robots for autonomously tracking sharks and gamefishes. He has garnered several academic awards, including CSULB’s 2008-2009 Outstanding Professor Award and 2012 Impact in Research Award. He has appeared in many articles and on TV and radio broadcasts, including the PBS/BBC special “Big Blue Live,” “TODAY,” “CBC News,” Newsweek, the Orange County Register and the Long Beach Press-Telegram, just to name a few. Dr. Lowe grew up on Martha’s Vineyard, where he spent a majority of his youth fishing and diving the waters around Cape Cod. He comes from a long line of New England fishermen and whalers and believes a career focused on the ocean environment was inevitable.
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Since 2000, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has featured many artifacts and stories to share the history of the Santa Barbara Channel with more than 40,000 visitors annually and provides year-round experiential maritime history and marine science education for local youth. Featuring the impressive First-Order Fresnel Lighthouse Lens from Point Conception, SBMM’s current exhibits explore the History of Oil in Santa Barbara Channel & Chumash Use of Asphaltum, the Honda Disaster, and Wives and Daughters: Keepers of the Light.

SBMM is located at the historic Santa Barbara Harbor at 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. Visit sbmm.org or call (805) 962-8404 for details.