New information released by senior scientists at the Census for Marine Life shows that recent studies comparing populations of Great White sharks and Tiger sharks have found that the planet's 3,500 Tiger sharks now outnumber the remaining population of Great Whites. 

Until now, scientists had been under the impression that, while rare, Great Whites were not endangered. They have previously been spotted in many different locations in the world's oceans, belying the fact that fewer and fewer exist today than in the past.

Stanford University conducted the new study, in which Great Whites were tagged and affixed with a tracking device. While previously seemingly large numbers of Great Whites were being spotted, the Stanford study found that the same sharks were being seen repeatedly. This new finding indicates that some of the conservation concern previously reserved for Tiger sharks must shift to the Great Whites as their numbers continue to decline.

The findings were released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in San Diego by Professor Barbara Block, who tracked more than 150 Great White sharks using both satellite and acoustic tracking devices as they moved along the coast of California and Hawaii.

The study has also provided valuable insight into the mobility of these massive sharks. They are much more mobile than previously thought - a shark spotted off the coast of California can be spotted again 100 miles away. The number of Great Whites has diminished 90% in 20 years due to illegal fishing, being hit by boats, getting tangled in fishing nets, and other anthropogenic factors. All of these reasons have historically been compounded by the fact that sharks are viewed as dangerous, not an animal to be conserved. People are finally beginning to realize that they are rare and majestic creatures, but is it too late?

A unique method of tracking the sharks has already been employed in Australia. Tags are used as an "early warning" system for swimmers and divers. The sharks are tagged, and receivers on the beach pick up a signal when they enter the bay. The receiver generates an automatic phone call so the beach can be temporarily closed, allowing humans to safely co-exist with marine life.