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Why shark encounters are increasing along the US East Coast
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Gray reef sharks, the subject of a study on social behavior among sharks, are seen in the Pacific Ocean around the Palmyra Atoll, about 1,600 km southwest of Hawaii in this undated photo released on August 12, 2020. (Handout via REUTERS/Yannis Papastamatiou)
S
un lotion, insect repellant, and the Sharktivity app are this summer's must-have beach accessories along the US East Coast as human-shark encounters increase.
Ironically, conservation wins for vulnerable species might be behind the unfortunate uptick, say experts, while there might also be a link to climate as the apex predators' prey move to new waters.
Every summer, great whites move up the Atlantic coast of the United States, toward New England, their number peaking between August and October.
"There's a general increase in the population that we think is the population rebounding after being protected," Gregory Skomal, a senior fisheries scientist for the state of Massachusetts, told AFP.
Around 300 of the animals, the world's largest known fish, have been tagged over the years, with roughly a hundred or so passing through the waters around Cape Cod every year.
The iconic movie "Jaws" was shot in this region, and the creatures are a major tourism draw, adorning baseball caps and t-shirts. On the flipside, however, there have already been temporary beach closures this year after confirmed sightings close to shore.
A major part of the reason is their main prey, seals, are also rebounding thanks to increased protections.
