import pandas as pd
import geopandas as gpd
import osr

shp_file = '/data/user/shapefiles/aleutian-atba/Aleutian_ATBAs.shp'
prj_file = '/data/user/shapefiles/aleutian-atba/Aleutian_ATBAs.prj'

# load shapefiles
shapes = gpd.read_file(shp_file)

# read in the projection file and apply
with open(prj_file, 'r') as prj_ref:
    prj = prj_ref.readline()

srs = osr.SpatialReference()
srs.ImportFromESRI([prj])
proj4 = srs.ExportToProj4()

shapes.crs = proj4