ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment

There are more great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod

Seems like some good news for sharks!

Elena MotivansbyElena Motivans
March 15, 2017
in Animals, Environment, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Sharks around the world are struggling due to overfishing, pollution, and not enough food. Off the coast of the USA, there was a similar story in the 1980s. Many great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) were hunted and their populations suffered tremendously. However, with stricter regulations in place for two decades, there seems to be some hope now. The populations off the east coast were the most affected, but even they seem to be bouncing back now.

This great white shark has something to smile about. Image credits: Hermanus Backpackers

Great white sharks are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Great white numbers declined steeply in the 1970s and 1980s due to overfishing for their teeth and gills. However, hunting great whites was made illegal in US waters in 1997. Stricter pollution regulations have made the water cleaner and nicer for the sharks to swim in. Importantly, their prey species have also been protected by regulations, meaning that the sharks also have enough to eat. All of these factors are favourable to an increase in the number of sharks.

It is worth protecting sharks because they are important members of the oceanic ecosystem. They are almost like ocean police. They keep prey species from becoming overabundant and by scavenging dead animals, keep the ocean clean. Culturally, sharks are also important, being featured heavily in movies, books, and toys.

Just one example of the cultural importance of great white sharks. Image credits: Roger Kastel

More sharks

To get an idea of how the great white sharks off the coast of Massachusetts are doing, the Department of Fish & Game, funded by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, has been leading surveys since 2014. They used airplanes to find and count the sharks. The first year, they found 68 great white sharks. Last summer, 147 sharks were found, included 89 new ones that had never been seen before. Although the results are preliminary, there seem to be a higher proportion of juvenile white sharks, which means that there are new sharks and that the population is growing. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions yet, but it appears that the shark populations are re-establishing and doing well.

However, swimmers need not fear, the last fatality from a great white shark in Massachusetts was in 1936. There haven’t been any attacks in the past three years, while the recorded number of sharks doubled. If you’re worried, then stay away from seals, swim in groups, and don’t swim at dawn or dusk because the sharks are the most active then. This is the advice recommended by the National Park Service at Cape Cod National Seashore.

Better to avoid swimming along, and at dusk, in areas known to have many great whites. Image credits: StockSnap

East and West

Two years ago, several studies were conducted on great whites also found the numbers going up. However, there were a lot more sharks on the west coast than the east coast. According to a 2011 study, there are 2,400 great white sharks off the coast of California. Contrasted with 147 sharks off the coast of Massachusetts, the difference is pretty stark.There was higher fishing pressure on the sharks on the east coast, which could be why they have taken longer to rebound. Another factor is that sharks grow slowly and take a long time to reach sexual maturity. However, this new data shows that the great whites on the east coast also seem to be recovering. Sounds like some good news for sharks finally!

 

RelatedPosts

Foamy gold is mostly empty, floats on coffee
This Priest Was Embalmed With Wood Chips Through His Rectum—And It Worked Surprisingly Well
A clock error spoiled NASA’s Christmas mission — but the craft just landed, safe and sound
Radar reveals impressive canyons under Antarctic ice

ShareTweetShare
Elena Motivans

Elena Motivans

I've always liked the way that words can sound together. Combined with my love for nature (and biology background), I'm interested in diving deep into different topics- in the natural world even the most mundane is fascinating!

Related Posts

great white shark
Animals

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

byJordan Strickler
2 minutes ago
Agriculture

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

byTudor Tarita
25 minutes ago
News

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

byMihai Andrei
45 minutes ago
News

Your browser lets websites track you even without cookies

byMihai Andrei
57 minutes ago

Recent news

great white shark

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

June 30, 2025

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

June 30, 2025

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.