The number of sharks off the U.S. coast has risen sharply; scientists have identified the cause
This summer, a record increase in the number of sharks was recorded off the coast of the United States. Researchers attribute this to rising ocean temperatures, which are causing the predators to alter their usual migration routes.
Along with other marine animals, sharks are moving farther north in search of cooler waters. Due to climate change, they are also beginning to shift the areas where they raise their young.
Over the past decade, global ocean temperatures have repeatedly reached record highs. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat accumulated due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Since sharks are cold-blooded animals, water that is too warm is unfavorable for them. As a result, many species are forced to expand their ranges and move northward along the U.S. East Coast.
Swimming areas are being closed on New York beaches
Beachgoers have already received numerous warnings about shark sightings at popular recreational spots, particularly at Rockaway Beach in New York State. At this beach alone, 23 shark sightings were recorded from late May through early July, with 16 of those occurring during the first week of July.
Due to the predators’ activity, popular beaches in New York State have been temporarily closed to swimmers. To monitor the situation, park police are using drones to patrol coastal waters and help detect sharks in a timely manner.
A similar situation is being observed off the coast of California, where, due to ocean warming, young great white sharks are increasingly being spotted as they migrate northward. One video even captured a young great white shark leaping out of the water near a person bodyboarding.
How Sharks Are Changing Their Habitats
Rapid ocean warming is forcing many marine species to migrate closer to the poles, where the water is cooler. One such example is a 3.6-meter-long female great white shark weighing about 450 kilograms. She was first spotted off the coast of Montauk, New York, in June. According to the marine research organization OCEARCH, the shark is traveling an unusual route toward Canadian waters in the Atlantic Ocean.
Another great white shark named Contender has taken a similar path. She is over 4.2 meters long, making her one of the largest sharks ever tagged with satellite tags in the Atlantic.
A study published in April showed that Atlantic bluntnose sharks are also changing their behavior due to warming waters. They have begun shifting the coastal areas they use as “nurseries” for young sharks farther north along the U.S. East Coast, where temperatures are more suitable for raising their young.
Does this pose a danger to humans?
Due to these changes in migration routes, people will continue to see sharks more and more frequently in places where they were previously rarely encountered. At the same time, experts emphasize that this isn’t necessarily bad news.
After all, sharks are an important part of marine ecosystems and help maintain their balance.
“Shark populations have been declining for a long time due to overfishing. Therefore, an increase in their numbers may indicate the recovery of these species,” noted shark researcher Neil Hammerschlag on NewsNation’s Morning in America.
Experts also point out that humans are not natural prey for sharks. Moreover, statistically, the probability of dying from a lightning strike is significantly higher than that of falling victim to a fatal shark attack. According to experts, the risk of a fatal attack is approximately one case per 3.7 million people.
Gizmodo reports on this.
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