A storymap tracing sand tiger sharks through Atlantic shipwrecks earns global recognition in Esri’s ArcGIS competition
Where Shipwrecks Become Shark Sanctuaries
Off the coast of North Carolina, in waters that sailors have long called the Graveyard of the Atlantic, something remarkable is happening beneath the surface. Centuries-old shipwrecks have become thriving habitats for one of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators: the sand tiger shark. Scientists at the North Carolina Aquariums have been tracking these animals through the rusted hulks and coral-encrusted debris fields that carpet the seafloor, gathering data that is both scientifically significant and visually arresting. That research has now earned international recognition. The project, titled Sharks in the Graveyard: Spotting Sand Tiger Sharks in the Northwest Atlantic, has been named one of 33 finalists in the 2025 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition, a global contest drawing more than 450 entries from 55 countries in 14 languages.
The Science Behind the Story
The storymap was created by Holly Doerr, a shark research scientist at the North Carolina Aquariums, and Carol Price, Ph.D., an NCA conservation research coordinator, working in partnership with Nancy Pham Ho of the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation. Together they produced an interactive narrative that takes the user on an underwater journey along the North Carolina coast, showing how the state’s coastal waters function as critical habitat for sand tiger sharks during key life stages. Sand tiger sharks, known for their distinctive protruding teeth and surprisingly docile temperament toward humans, are classified as a vulnerable species globally. Their populations have been significantly reduced by overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation. The North Carolina coast, with its unusually high concentration of historic shipwrecks, provides refuge and hunting grounds that are essential to the animals’ survival. The storymap brings that scientific reality to life through interactive maps, satellite data, and accessible narrative that general audiences can follow and engage with.
Geospatial Storytelling as Conservation Tool
The ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition is hosted by Esri, the global leader in geographic information system technology, in partnership with its ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World team. Esri describes the competition as a challenge to use geospatial tools to communicate meaningful stories about the world’s greatest challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and social and economic inequality. The North Carolina entry competes in the professional environment category, going up against projects from dozens of countries addressing environmental issues of all kinds. The competition demonstrates the growing power of geospatial storytelling as a conservation and advocacy tool. By making complex scientific data visually accessible and emotionally resonant, storymaps can reach audiences that traditional scientific papers never would. That bridge between technical research and public understanding is increasingly recognized as essential to building the political will for conservation action.
North Carolina’s Coastal Waters as a Living Laboratory
The North Carolina Aquariums system includes four facilities along the state’s coast: Fort Fisher near Kure Beach, Pine Knoll Shores on the Crystal Coast, Roanoke Island in Manteo, and Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. Together they constitute one of the most active marine research and public education networks on the US Atlantic coast. The Roanoke Island facility gained national attention after being named one of the top ten aquariums in the United States in Newsweek’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. That recognition reflected both the quality of the facility’s public programming and the depth of its conservation work, including its Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center, which cared for nearly 800 cold-stunned sea turtles during the winter of 2024-25, successfully rehabilitating and releasing over 600 of them. The aquarium network’s decision to invest in digital storytelling tools like ArcGIS reflects a broader understanding that conservation in the twenty-first century requires communicating with publics across platforms and formats, not just displaying animals behind glass.
Voting Is Open Until March 10
The public has an opportunity to influence the outcome of this competition. From the 33 finalists, a Community Choice Award will be selected by public vote, with voting open until March 10, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern time through the Esri ArcGIS website. The winner will be recognized by the global geospatial community as the most compelling and effective piece of storymap-based storytelling from the year’s competition. Winners in each category will be announced in April on or around Earth Day. The ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition page allows users to explore all 33 finalists and cast their vote. For those interested in the intersection of marine science and digital communication, the North Carolina entry stands out as an exemplary demonstration of how research can be transformed into accessible, engaging narrative. More information on the North Carolina Aquariums and their ongoing conservation programs is available at the North Carolina Aquariums website.
Conservation Science in an Era of Ecological Crisis
The recognition of the Sharks in the Graveyard project arrives at a moment when marine ecosystems face unprecedented pressure from climate change, plastic pollution, industrial fishing, and coastal development. Sand tiger sharks are a case study in how human activity can destabilize species that have survived for hundreds of millions of years. The IUCN Red List documents the sand tiger shark’s vulnerable status and the specific pressures driving its decline. The work of scientists like Doerr and Price, made accessible to the public through tools like ArcGIS, is part of a broader effort to generate the public awareness and political support that conservation requires. The Graveyard of the Atlantic has long been a place where history and nature intersect in dramatic ways. It is appropriate that it is also becoming a place where science and storytelling come together in service of a species that needs advocates.
Printer & Journalist, Apple Daily UK
Contact: natalie.cheung@appledaily.uk
Natalie Cheung is a dual-discipline media professional whose career bridges journalism and print production, a rare combination that strengthens both editorial rigor and publishing reliability. Trained at a top-tier Chinese journalism institution, Natalie developed a strong foundation in news ethics, investigative reporting, and media law, before advancing into professional newsrooms serving Chinese-language audiences worldwide.
At Apple Daily and other liberal Chinese newspapers and magazines, Natalie has reported on civil society, cultural identity, media freedom, and grassroots political movements, with a focus on accuracy, sourcing discipline, and contextual clarity. Her reporting reflects first-hand newsroom experience during periods of political pressure, giving her work deep experiential authority rather than abstract commentary.
In parallel with reporting, Natalie is an experienced print production specialist, overseeing layout integrity, press coordination, and publication workflows. This operational expertise ensures that editorial content is not only truthful and well-sourced, but also faithfully preserved and distributed, an increasingly critical concern in the modern media environment.
Natalie’s work is informed by years inside independent Chinese media organizations that value transparency, pluralism, and public accountability. Her combined expertise in journalism and printing makes her a trusted professional across both editorial and production teams. She adheres to strict verification standards and is committed to protecting the historical record through responsible publishing.
