Photographing seals in the Magdalen Islands during Brion23 White Shark Expedition. Image © ORS | JHG
COPYRIGHT
Film crew during Brion22 white shark
expedition in the Magdalen islands.
Photo © ORS | JHG
All Rights Reserved
Many of the facts, images, illustrations, observations, and interpretations presented throughout this website are original contributions derived from ORS research and remain attributable to the organisation. This includes photographs, AI-assisted illustrations created exclusively for ORS under its scientific and creative direction, maps, graphics, databases, and other visual content.
Reasonable use of factual information—not images, illustrations, graphics, maps, or written content—is encouraged, provided the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory (ORS) is clearly acknowledged as the source. However, unless otherwise indicated, the text, images, illustrations, graphics, and overall content of this website are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, adapted, republished, or redistributed without prior written permission.
Unauthorised or uncredited use is readily identifiable when the source material is unique.
Text & written content
Unless otherwise stated, all written material featured on this website, including species profiles, research summaries, educational texts, historical syntheses, field observations, databases, and interpretive content, is © ORS | St. Lawrence Shark Observatory. Much of the information presented on this website is the result of original ORS research, long-term field documentation, archival investigation, expert interpretation, or the synthesis of rare and difficult-to-access sources.
Reproduction, copy-and-paste redistribution, or republication of ORS written material without proper attribution is prohibited. Reasonable citation for educational, scientific, journalistic, or conservation purposes is permitted and encouraged, provided that ORS is clearly credited as the source. Any substantial reproduction, commercial reuse, or republication of ORS content requires prior written permission.
Images and AI-assisted scientific illustrations
Some of the shark illustrations featured on this website are created using AI-assisted digital rendering tools under the direction of the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory. All anatomical features, species characteristics, colouration, proportions, behaviours, and Gulf of St. Lawrence habitat details are carefully prompted, reviewed, corrected, and validated by ORS researchers and shark specialists to ensure scientific accuracy and ecological realism as much as possible. AI-assisted rendering is used across all species profiles to maintain a consistent visual and aesthetic style throughout the website while supporting education, outreach, conservation, and scientific communication.
Many shark species are exceptionally difficult to photograph in natural conditions due to factors such as extreme depth, rarity, low-light environments, offshore distribution, weather limitations, and the unpredictable nature of hunting or transient encounters. In some cases, very few high-quality images of living animals exist. AI-assisted illustration therefore provides a practical way to visually represent species and behaviours that are rarely observed or photographed in the wild.
As a small registered charity operating with limited financial resources, ORS does not currently have the means to commission large numbers of custom scientific illustrations from professional artists, despite strongly supporting the arts and the important role of wildlife illustration in science communication. AI-assisted rendering tools therefore provide an accessible alternative while allowing ORS researchers to maintain direct scientific oversight of anatomy, behaviour, environmental context, and species identification.
Unless otherwise stated, all images, illustrations, and video featured on this website are © ORS | St. Lawrence Shark Observatory and remain the intellectual property of ORS. While artificial intelligence may be used as a creative rendering tool for some visual materials, the scientific supervision, ecological context, iterative prompting, image refinement, and final artistic direction remain entirely human-led by ORS personnel.
Image & video licensing
Certain photographs, illustrations, and video footage featured on this website may be made available for licensed non-exclusive use upon request. Due to the rarity and scientific value of many of these materials, reproduction or redistribution without permission is strictly prohibited. Any proceeds generated through the sale or licensing of ORS visual materials are used exclusively to support the charitable research, education, outreach, and conservation activities of the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory.
Many of the facts, images, illustrations, observations, and interpretations presented throughout this website are original contributions derived from ORS research and remain attributable to the organisation. This includes photographs, AI-assisted illustrations created exclusively for ORS under its scientific and creative direction, maps, graphics, databases, and other visual content.
Reasonable use of factual information—not images, illustrations, graphics, maps, or written content—is encouraged, provided the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory (ORS) is clearly acknowledged as the source. However, unless otherwise indicated, the text, images, illustrations, graphics, and overall content of this website are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, adapted, republished, or redistributed without prior written permission.
Unauthorised or uncredited use is readily identifiable when the source material is unique.
Text & written content
Unless otherwise stated, all written material featured on this website, including species profiles, research summaries, educational texts, historical syntheses, field observations, databases, and interpretive content, is © ORS | St. Lawrence Shark Observatory. Much of the information presented on this website is the result of original ORS research, long-term field documentation, archival investigation, expert interpretation, or the synthesis of rare and difficult-to-access sources.
Reproduction, copy-and-paste redistribution, or republication of ORS written material without proper attribution is prohibited. Reasonable citation for educational, scientific, journalistic, or conservation purposes is permitted and encouraged, provided that ORS is clearly credited as the source. Any substantial reproduction, commercial reuse, or republication of ORS content requires prior written permission.
Images and AI-assisted scientific illustrations
Some of the shark illustrations featured on this website are created using AI-assisted digital rendering tools under the direction of the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory. All anatomical features, species characteristics, colouration, proportions, behaviours, and Gulf of St. Lawrence habitat details are carefully prompted, reviewed, corrected, and validated by ORS researchers and shark specialists to ensure scientific accuracy and ecological realism as much as possible. AI-assisted rendering is used across all species profiles to maintain a consistent visual and aesthetic style throughout the website while supporting education, outreach, conservation, and scientific communication.
Many shark species are exceptionally difficult to photograph in natural conditions due to factors such as extreme depth, rarity, low-light environments, offshore distribution, weather limitations, and the unpredictable nature of hunting or transient encounters. In some cases, very few high-quality images of living animals exist. AI-assisted illustration therefore provides a practical way to visually represent species and behaviours that are rarely observed or photographed in the wild.
As a small registered charity operating with limited financial resources, ORS does not currently have the means to commission large numbers of custom scientific illustrations from professional artists, despite strongly supporting the arts and the important role of wildlife illustration in science communication. AI-assisted rendering tools therefore provide an accessible alternative while allowing ORS researchers to maintain direct scientific oversight of anatomy, behaviour, environmental context, and species identification.
Unless otherwise stated, all images, illustrations, and video featured on this website are © ORS | St. Lawrence Shark Observatory and remain the intellectual property of ORS. While artificial intelligence may be used as a creative rendering tool for some visual materials, the scientific supervision, ecological context, iterative prompting, image refinement, and final artistic direction remain entirely human-led by ORS personnel.
Image & video licensing
Certain photographs, illustrations, and video footage featured on this website may be made available for licensed non-exclusive use upon request. Due to the rarity and scientific value of many of these materials, reproduction or redistribution without permission is strictly prohibited. Any proceeds generated through the sale or licensing of ORS visual materials are used exclusively to support the charitable research, education, outreach, and conservation activities of the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory.
Stranded white shark near Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
AI-assisted © ORS |. All Rights Reserved
“Fear and apathy bite deeper
than any shark.”
Help protect the sharks
of the St. Lawrence.
— Jeffrey Hay Gallant, ORS
The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory is a registered charity:
Canada Revenue Agency #834462913RR0001
CSAR
OSF
PUBLICATIONS
© 2026 St. Lawrence Shark Observatory. All Rights Reserved.
Stranded white shark near Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
AI-assisted © ORS |. All Rights Reserved
“Fear and apathy
bite deeper
than any shark.”
Help protect the sharks
of the St. Lawrence.
— Jeffrey Hay Gallant, ORS
The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory is a registered charity:
Canada Revenue Agency #834462913RR0001
CSAR
OSF
PUBLICATIONS
© 2026 St. Lawrence Shark Observatory
All Rights Reserved