The Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI) is an American non-profit group that works to study and protect shark species. The ASI focuses on learning about shark biology, how sharks survive, and how to keep shark populations healthy in the northwest Atlantic Ocean.
The ASI was started by shark biologist Jon Dodd. The organization leads many research projects and works with other groups, such as the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and others. The ASI studies several shark species, including shortfin mako, great white, thresher, blue, porbeagle, spinner, sand tiger, and others.
The ASI is also part of the New England White Shark Research Consortium, a group of research organizations in New England and Canada. This group works to study white sharks and help manage their populations in the northwest part of their range. The ASI has tagged about 50 white sharks. This information helps scientists understand how these sharks move, which can provide insights into how climate changes affect ocean predators.
The ASI helped write a major study about newborn spinner sharks found in Rhode Island waters. Fishermen connected to the ASI caught a young spinner shark that still had a partially healed umbilical wound, showing the shark was recently born. This discovery was recognized by Forbes as an example of successful citizen science.
Research
The Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI) performs detailed research on different shark species to improve knowledge and support conservation efforts. An important project is the setup of an acoustic shark array in Rhode Island waters, which started in 2019 with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. This array uses acoustic receivers to track tagged animals, such as sharks, offering useful information about their presence, where they live, and how they move. In 2025, the ASI array grew to include 20 receivers, making the research more thorough and effective.
The ASI also leads a study on white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) near Southern New England and North Carolina, focusing on how they move and live in the western North Atlantic. By tagging these sharks during different migration stages, scientists study their large and small-scale movements along the U.S. eastern coast. This research is important for managing white sharks wisely, as they are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In 2025, the Atlantic Shark Institute recorded the first-ever footage of a juvenile white shark in Rhode Island using a baited remote underwater video system (BRUVS).
The Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI) conducts in-depth research on shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus), examining their behavior, habitat, and conservation. ASI uses advanced tagging methods, including acoustic and satellite transmitters, to track their movements and where they live in the northwest Atlantic. Working with local fishermen, ASI has successfully tagged many young mako sharks in Rhode Island waters, providing important data about their migration paths and the areas they use.
License Plate
In 2023, the Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI), a nonprofit organization in Rhode Island that focuses on shark research and conservation, launched a special license plate with a mako shark design. The program became popular quickly, with more than 1,000 pre-orders—needed to begin production—sold within hours of the announcement. By May 2023, over 4,000 plates had been ordered, breaking the record for the fastest-selling charity plate in Rhode Island's history.
Because of the program's success, ASI added more types of plates, including combination, commercial, and motorcycle plates. By May 2025, over 10,000 shark-themed plates had been given out across different vehicle types, making it the most popular charity plate in Rhode Island's history. The money from these sales has helped ASI support its work in shark research, conservation, acoustic telemetry, BRUVs research, shark tagging, and tracking endangered species.
Media
The Atlantic Shark Institute has been mentioned in news articles, films, documentaries, and newsletters when discussing topics about sharks and conservation. Scientists and research from the institute have been shown on National Geographic, Shark Week, and other major television networks. Recently, the Atlantic Shark Institute helped create and pass a law in Rhode Island that allows the organization to make charity license plates. The license plate design set two state records, selling nearly 3,000 plates in four days. The Atlantic Shark Institute was the main focus of a pilot episode for a series titled "Ocean State: Rhode Island's Wild Coast," which premiered on Ocean State Media / PBS. The episode is called "Chasing Fins."