The largest shark-tagging expedition in U.S. history is launching from Cape Cod on Tuesday. The expedition, led by a team from the shark researching organization OCEARCH, will run until August 29.

The objective behind this program is to capture, tag, and release up to 20 great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod. The team of scientists on board will spend about 15 minutes studying each shark and gathering any information that will help figure out the mysterious movement and breeding patterns of the sharks.

Check out this video to see what happens when scientists tag and study a shark:

Spurred by publicity surrounding sharks and the increased summertime population, OCEARCH calls the Cape Cod Expedition a “quest for increased knowledge.” Part of OCEARCH’s mission is to improve public knowledge about sharks and raising awareness for the need to sustain a dwindling shark population.

“Our knowledge base on Atlantic white sharks will grow exponentially, helping both science and public safety,” said Dr. Greg Skomal, Senior Scientist at the MA Division of Marine Fisheries and one of the Cape Cod expedition’s leaders. This voyage is the 17th for OCEARCH and the second from Cape Cod.

The aspect that sets this expedition apart from last year’s is its concentrated focus on areas with high seal populations.

Last September, two great whites were tagged off of the Cape. Mary Lee and Genie, as they have been christened, can be followed on the Global Shark Tracker. The sharks tagged on this ongoing expedition will also be visible on the shark tracker, along with all other sharks tagged in the past around the world. There have already been two confirmed great white shark sightings off of the Cape this year.

The OCEARCH expedition coincides with the beginning of the wildly popular Shark Week, which airs on the Discovery Channel this Sunday, August 4. Celebrate both shark-related launches at the Revere Hotel with a screening of Jaws Comes Home, a special Shark Week-themed menu, and the Cape Cod Shark Hunters.