Sharks usually migrate north during the summer months, but this year the migration is greater and came much earlier than previous seasons — and one expert says climate change is to blame.
dr. Tracy Fanara, an environmental engineer and research scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told DailyMail.com that not only is climate change a factor, but so is La Niña.
Dr Tracy Fanaraan environmental engineer and research scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told DailyMail.com that not only is climate change a factor, but so is La Niña.
“This is La Niña’s third year, which is like climate change on crack,” she said in an interview.
La Niña is also expected to continue through 2022, with a chance of declining toward the Northern Hemisphere in late summer, according to NOAA.
‘The migration has always taken place, [but] now productive ocean areas are changing due to climate and temperatures that can change where sharks congregate,” Fanara said.
‘Moreover, seals and sea lions divide their areas differently due to climate change, so that sharks also move into new areas.’
This season also sees the apex predators lurking closer to the shoreline — two attacks have been reported on the same beach in New York’s Long Island.
Along with climate change and La Niña Fanara has other theories as to why the northeast is being overrun with sharks.
“It could be overfishing bringing sharks closer to shore, or there could be more people in the water,” she said.
Sharks usually migrate north during the summer months, but the migration is bigger this year, coming much earlier than previous seasons — and experts say climate change is to blame. Pictured is a shark tracking map from OCEARCH showing all the sharks it has tagged
“This is La Niña’s third year, which is like climate change on crack,” Fanara said. La Niña is also expected to continue through 2022, with a chance of declining toward the Northern Hemisphere in late summer, according to NOAA. Pictured is a map showing the path of La Niña
Overfishing removes the shark’s primary food source, forcing them to look elsewhere for something to eat — and that could be closer to the shoreline.
“There are more interactions between humans and these animals as they go where they can find food,” Fanara said.
“Depredation is something fishermen complain about.”
However, the warmer ocean waters play a big part in driving the great migration north.
“Sharks that like warm waters (bull, tiger, dusky shark, spinner shark, silky shark and blacktip shark) can now migrate further north,” Fanara said.
“Cold water sharks are also moving north to areas they weren’t previously, seeing more white sharks in Maine, for example.”
On July 12, a great white shark was spotted near the beach in the Gulf of Maine, which conservators have named Luke.
Another one was spotted a little further south in Cape Cod on July 11.
“Sharks that like cold water are also moving north to areas where they weren’t before, for example they see more white sharks in Maine,” Fanara says. Pictured is a large white spotted swimming near the beach in the Gulf of Maine on July 12, which conservators have named Luke
And there were two sightings at Nauset Beach: a shark called Granese and another called Kendal (pictured)
However, this one was a whopping 11 feet long.
And there were two sightings at Nauset Beach: a shark called Granese and another called Kendal.
The large migration is also due to an increase in the seal and sea lion population, according to Fanara.
“Seals and sea lions have been protected since the 1972 Marine Mammal Act, so populations have increased that would bring sharks closer to shore,” explains Fanara.
“So the proliferation of pinnipeds is due to increasing numbers and competition in food sources…which is another reason for more interaction with sharks.”
Last week, shark-tracking maps showed dozens lurking around the northeast coast.
Shark taggers reported a massive 528-pound female white shark off the coast of Cape Cod, while more than 14 sharks lurk in the waters off Long Island.
In late June, a lifeguard was bitten on Smith Point Beach and he was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries.
And on Wednesday, a paddleboarder was bitten in the leg at about 7:30 a.m. ET on the same beach.