Increased Numbers of White Sharks in Coastal Waters

• White sharks have started to appear more frequently in coastal waters.
• The increase in numbers of these sharks may be due to this phenomenon.
• Encounters with people remain extremely rare.

New data indicates that white sharks spend more time in the cold waters of New England and along the Atlantic coastline of Canada. This suggests that fish, particularly seals and sea turtles, which spend time in coastal waters, are learning to coexist with these predators, famous from the film "Jaws," which was released 50 years ago. Observations of sharks have increased in places like Maine, where they were previously hardly noticed.

Researchers link the increased sightings of white sharks with improved access to seals, which these sharks feed on, and confirm that the populations are generally very safe from shark attacks.

From 2020 to 2024, the state of Maine recorded 93 unique white sharks. In 2024, there were recorded 19 unique white sharks on 47 different dates. The first recorded fatality from a shark attack in Maine occurred in 2020, when a shark killed 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach on Bailey Island.

The number of white sharks recorded near Halifax, Nova Scotia, increased approximately 2.5 times from 2018 to 2022. Even more so, in the Cabot Strait, the number of sharks increased nearly fourfold. The average duration of white shark presence in these coastal waters also increased from 48 to 70 days, which suggests that sharks feel more comfortable in the area.

This increase is likely related to the successful conservation of seals in New England and Canada, which has allowed these animals to thrive and become a staple food source for sharks. White sharks also benefit from protective measures, including a ban on fishing for them in federal waters of the U.S., which has been in place since 1997.

In terms of size and strength, rare encounters between white sharks and people are extremely rare. Throughout history, fewer than 60 fatal shark attacks on white sharks have been recorded worldwide.

Tags: Ecology/Research