Rise in number of great whites in N.S. waters no cause for fear, says expert

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

A marine ecologist in Nova Scotia says great white sharks get a bad rap, as more of the animals start making their way into Atlantic Canadian waters.

“Several studies now have indicated that numbers, certainly sightings, of white sharks in Atlantic Canada have increased and tracking data shows more and more tracked individuals are coming to Canadian waters,” explained Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, owner of Atlantic Shark Expeditions and executive director of the Shark Research Foundation.

Hammerschlag says while there are no definitive answers to why white sharks are coming further north, he says water temperatures are rising, making new areas accessible to sharks, and there is an abundance of food, particularly seals, in Atlantic Canada.

It is still a little early in the season for white sharks to enter Canadian waters, he notes, although there were reports of sightings around this time last year on the south shore.

He says the animals will enter waters all around Nova Scotia, including the Atlantic-facing shoreline, Cape Breton, the Northumberland Straight and even into the Bay of Fundy.

Related:

• Scientists tag great white sharks to learn how best to protect endangered species
• New signs warning of great white sharks in the works for some East Coast beaches
• Oceanographers say warming waters in the Gulf of St. Lawrence affecting animal life

Hammerschlag says he views the increase of great whites as a positive for the local ecosystem as it helps keep balance with species, including seals, keeping populations in check. They aren’t here in huge numbers, though, as the Canadian white shark population is still classified as endangered, but does appear to be recovering.

“Unfortunately, sharks have a really bad reputation, and it’s kind of unfair,” Hammerschlag said. “They are thought of as these mindless killers, and nothing could be further from the truth. These animals are smart, curious, strategic and often very thoughtful.”

Humans are not a natural prey for sharks, he says, and so a fear of sharks should not prevent people from going into the water. He also says the idea of a small amount of blood in the water sending sharks into a frenzy isn’t based in reality, and sharks aren’t attracted to human blood like they are fish blood.

Ways to stay safe

However, there are some precautions people can take to avoid any potential encounter during a swim.

“If a great white is hunting somewhere, that might not be a good place to go swimming,” he said. “So I would avoid swimming or surfing in an area with lots of seals around because that obviously could be an area where a shark could be hunting.”

Hammerschlag adds it’s probably a good idea to avoid waters where a shark sighting has been confirmed, and to stay out of water where people are actively fishing, as struggling fish on fishing lines are like a “ringing dinner bell” for sharks. Shiny jewelry can be problematic, too, as sharks may confuse it for fish scales.

He says it’s also a good idea to avoid swimming at dawn or dusk, as during those low-light hours, sharks can have a hard time knowing if you are prey.

“Sharks’ teeth are sensory-structured; they use their teeth to feel objects that they’re unsure about, so under low-light hours conditions or in poor water visibility, the sharks might have more questions than answers.”

In this May, 22, 2019, photo, a woman walks with her dogs at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charles Krupa)

Lastly, Hammerschlag says to trust your instincts.

He says that “strangely,” people who’ve been attacked by sharks have reported having a gut feeling that they should get out of the water before the incident.

“Those are some ways to reduce our risk, even though the risk is extremely small, there are some things we can do to increase our safety,” he added.

Hammerschlag says he uses his Atlantic Shark Expeditions company as a way to educate people about sharks and dispel misconceptions.

“What we do is actually take people, anyone 10 years and up can come, and we go out and take people in boats to view sharks and even cage dive with sharks safely,” he said, adding people on the boat as part of the expedition also contribute to ongoing scientific studies.

Expeditions launch from Sambro in the summer and near Yarmouth in the fall.