Shark migration: Great whites journey northward, accompanied by seals, causing apprehension among beach visitors
In the coastal town of Scarborough, commercial clam digger David Lancaster made an unexpected discovery - a 12-foot great white shark swimming near the town's beaches. This sighting is just one example of the increasing presence of these predators off the U.S. East Coast.
Lancaster, who is also a surfer, believes that people in New England will have to adapt to living alongside great whites. He considers their presence as something that fishermen and surfers have to accept. The rise in white shark sightings is linked to the increased availability of seals, which are the sharks' main food source.
The presence of great whites is a concern that is always in the back of the minds of beachgoers. However, scientists assure that beachgoers are generally safe from shark bites. In fact, the first recorded fatal shark attack in Maine occurred only recently, in 2020, claiming the life of Julie Dimperio Holowach.
The growth of social media has made shark sightings go viral in recent summers. Apps like Sharktivity, which allows shark spotters to report their sightings, have become popular tools for tracking these apex predators. Rick Clough, a fisherman from Maine, recently used Sharktivity to report a great white shark he spotted off the coast.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has been documenting the growing population of great white sharks off the East Coast for over a decade. Ashleigh Novak, the research coordinator with the Conservancy, has been instrumental in this effort. The Conservancy's data shows that the number of white sharks detected off Halifax, Nova Scotia, increased about 2.5 times from 2018 to 2022. Similarly, the number of white sharks detected in the Cabot Strait that separates Nova Scotia and Newfoundland increased nearly four times over the same period.
Great white sharks are moving further north from Cape Cod due to an increasingly abundant food supply in the northern Atlantic off the U.S. coast. This trend is likely to continue, as these predators adapt to changing ocean conditions and find new hunting grounds.
While the sight of a great white shark can be intimidating, it is important to remember that these animals are a vital part of the marine ecosystem. By understanding their behaviour and habits, we can coexist with them safely and respectfully. As more people encounter these magnificent creatures, perhaps a new appreciation for sharks will grow, and fears will be replaced with awe and admiration.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
