More great white sharks in Canadian Atlantic waters isn't cause for concern
Despite data indicating the increase in occurrences of white sharks in Canadian Atlantic waters, there is no need for concern among East Coasters
Marine ecologist Neil Hammerschlag had a banner week cage diving, spotting a great white shark on July 4, just 15 kilometres off the coast of Halifax, N.S.
He says scientific tracking data suggests the occurrences of white sharks in Canadian Atlantic waters has been increasing.
“Waters that used to be too cold for the sharks are now becoming optimal for them,” said Hammerschlag, in a recent interview with The Weather Network.
A fin sighting recently closed Queensland Beach for approximately two hours.
While a lifeguard did evacuate the beach, Hammerschlag says the sighting shouldn’t be a reason to panic because sharks don’t want anything to do with humans, and a shark bite is extremely rare.
Great white shark. (Getty Images/Alessandro De Maddalena/2157871416-170667a)
“While shark sightings are extremely rare, there are some steps you can take to avoid an encounter," said Hammerschlag.
“I would avoid swimming anywhere where there is a lot of seal activity because these sharks might be hunting seals. Avoid wearing shiny reflective jewelry [because] the light hitting that jewelry might look like the scales of the fish that they might want to feed on. Avoid swimming during low light, like dawn, dusk or at night, where it might be hard for sharks to distinguish between a human and its natural seal prey. I would [also] avoid swimming where someone is actually actively fishing.”
If you do want to get up and close with one, Atlantic Shark Expeditions operates cage diving off the coast of Halifax, departing from Sambro during the summer and then off the coast of Yarmouth in the fall.
Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images: Great white shark. Credit: Ken Kiefer 2 Creative #: 1322459029..