Researchers are speculating that there may be a great white shark nursery near New Jersey. What has led them to this hypothesis and how will they find out?
First, we should understand that nurseries are considered “essential habitats” for sharks of all kinds. An essential or critical habitat is an area that is critical for spawning, breeding, feeding, and growth of sharks. This is exactly what a nursery is: an area for sharks to reproduce and care for their offspring until they are able to take care of themselves.
Earlier in August, a juvenile white shark, about four feet long, was discovered by people leisurely fishing about nine miles northeast of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. They actually caught the fish, took pictures and video of it alongside the boat, and let it go. Fishing for great white sharks is illegal as they are an endangered species.
Based on historical data this is a known nursery for great white sharks. The area is identified as the New York Bight, a stretch of ocean from Cape May to Montauk Point. There is limited research, but there seem to be quite a few sightings of great white pups during warmer weather.
The shark caught by the family in August was likely a female that was only a few months old, says Michael L. Domeier, President of the Marine Conservation Science Institute in Hawaii. He makes this prediction based on the videos taken by the family.
This particular nursery was tentatively identified in the 1960s, when Jack Casey was working at the Sandy Hook Marine Labs. He noted several pups with umbilical scars—neonates. The number of sharks in the area dropped in the ‘70s and ‘80s and then began to increase in the 1990s as conservation efforts were initiated, as observed by area fishermen.
The nursery theory is based on anecdotal evidence. No formal studies or observations have been performed in the area. Researchers have noted an increase in shark sightings, but have not formally confirmed this.
Additional anecdotal evidence indicates increased sightings in the Cape Cod area during the summer, potentially related to the large seal population. Some scientists believe the Cape Cod shark population and the New Jersey nursery may be related. The Cape Cod sharks could be the source of the pups in the nursery. A study of the area is needed to link the two scientifically.
Meanwhile, the great white shark named Mary Lee, tagged by researchers in 2012, has returned to the New Jersey coastline. She was previously thought to be pregnant and possibly returning to the nursery, or she may simply be following food on her migration path. Mary Lee is 3,500 pounds of tagged shark. Her tag, which pings from her dorsal fin, has recently shown clusters around the Townsends Inlet.
For those concerned, the last fatal shark attack in New Jersey was over 100 years ago. To read the funny Twitter account started in Mary Lee’s name, follow @MaryLeeShark. Photos and silly comments abound. At last count, she had over 70,000 followers.
