Founded in 1962 as a tax-exempt non-profit scientific research organization, the Shark Research Committee's primary goal was to assist Leonard P. Schultz of the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) in documenting shark attacks from the Pacific Coast of North America. This initial objective was soon broadened to include conducting original research on the general biology, behavior and ecology of sharks indigenous to waters off the Pacific Coast, with particular emphasis on potentially dangerous species.

Early in this research, it was determined that the White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) was the species indicted for the majority of shark attacks recorded along the Pacific Coast of North America. As a consequence, a preponderance of the data gathered by the Shark Research Committee over the last four decades on shark/human interactions from the West Coast relates specifically to the White Shark. In fact, the White Shark is deemed responsible for, or highly suspect in, 87% of all recorded unprovoked shark attacks on humans that occurred off the Pacific Coast during the Twentieth Century.

Results from some of the Shark Research Committee's research on shark attacks along the Pacific Coast of North America have been published in scientific journals. A definitive new reference book, "Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century - from the Pacific Coast of North America," is available from Scientia Publishing, LLC.

Pacific Coast Shark News — Current shark activities along the Pacific Coast of North America, including; attacks, encounters, observations, and predations available here.

Web Site Updates

You are invited to return for frequent updates to our pages. The following are the most recent:

September 2008 —	Special Book Offer, Pacific Coast Shark News,
	Guest Speaker.

Current and Ongoing Projects

Shark Attacks Along the Pacific Coast of North America
Shark/Human Interactions Along the Pacific Coast of North America
Distribution and Movements of the White Shark along the Pacific Coast of North America
Predatory Behavior of the White Shark
Functional Morphology of the White Shark
Life History and Ecology of the White Shark along the Pacific Coast
Sensory and Cognitive Abilities of the White Shark
Social Behavior of the White Shark
Selected Aspects of the Biology of Pacific Coast Sharks

Public Outreach Program

Sharks and shark attacks are notoriously difficult to study. The Shark Research Committee has long relied on the kindness and generosity of a great many interested persons who contributed shark specimens or information/photos/video detailing their shark attack, shark encounter(s), and observations of shark predation.

The Shark Research Committee is interested in establishing a network of interested volunteers willing to assist its various research programs along the Pacific Coast of North America. Such research assistants might include:

Pacific Coast commercial fishermen willing to share their shark experiences and/or perhaps donate any large or unusual shark specimens
individuals willing to collect data on Pacific Coast shark attacks, predations, or encounters on behalf of the Shark Research Committee

If you are interested in assisting our research, please contact Ralph S. Collier.

To help our volunteer research assistants help us, the Shark Research Committee is currently preparing a guide to the sharks of the Pacific Coast, as well as numerous other information materials we hope you will find helpful. Watch this Web site for announcements as each of these becomes available.