A Great White Event: Fifth Great White Shark Found Washed Up This Year

By Keyara Nelson, NSEN Journalism Volunteer

A new phenomenon has caused quite a stir amongst the maritime communities as the body of a 14-foot great white shark washed onto Cape Breton beach on October 5th. This being the fifth shark to be found dead along the coast of Atlantic Canada in the last year, many are feeling a sense of unease about the arrival of these carnivorous creatures (CBC News, 2023). Despite the alarm expressed by locals, experts suggest that the sightings of these washed-up sharks may be a positive sign for the species.

Photo: On October 5, a great white shark stranded on a beach within Cape Breton Highlands National Park was retrieved and subjected to examination by the Marine Animal Response Society (Jason P. Williams, 2023).

In the past two decades, only one or two great white shark strandings have occurred yearly. With this past year having 5 strandings, it has been suggested that there may be a rise in the great white population. Four of the great white sharks were found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island (Márquez). The most recent sighting was of the shark found in Cape Breton, it is one of the largest discoveries as well (CBC News, 2023).

The resurgence of the population is a welcome sight. Great white sharks have enjoyed protection in Canada since the late 2000s and in the United States since the mid-1990s. These conservation measures might be contributing to population growth, alongside the growth in the seal population - which also contributes to conservation efforts (Alam, 2023). A demonstration of the success of conservation, the great white revival has exciting implications for the species.

Nevertheless, the fascination surrounding the sharks is also lined with fears for public safety. Some individuals are frightened by the increase in great whites in the area; there have been attacks in Canadian waters in the past. One such attack occurred in August 2021, just off an island in the Nova Scotian region, where a 21-year-old was allegedly attacked while jumping off a boat (CTV News, 2023). John Chisholm, from the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, emphasizes that humans must exercise caution when entering the ocean as it is a wild environment. Chisholm explains that the risk to humans of a shark attack is minimal, but one must always respect the ocean and not treat it as “a private swimming pool” (Alam, 2023).

Instances of shark attacks are exceedingly rare, emphasizing the generally peaceful coexistence between these marine predators and humans. From 2014 to 2018, the global average recorded 82 unprovoked shark attacks and 4 fatalities annually. Although infrequent, it's noteworthy that the great white species, in particular, accounts for the highest number of fatal unprovoked shark attacks on humans (Fact Animal, 2023). Even with the rarity of these attacks, the lingering concern from Maritimers due to the great white shark's resurgence remains.

With many eyes now watching the shorelines, puzzled experts turn their attention further out to sea. The lingering question of exactly why these sharks are becoming stranded on Canadian beaches remains prevalent. The rise in population addresses a part of the inquiry but does not provide insight into the cause of death. The shark that was discovered on one of Cape Breton’s beaches was in good condition, though there are videos of the shark acting erratically before its death; it was seen close to the shore, thrashing around and bumping against the wharf (CBC News, 2023).

Tonya Wimmer, a marine biologist and the executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society, states that they are examining these sharks to determine if there might be any conceivable explanation, whether it involves an impact on their brain, the presence of a different disease, or another underlying condition (CBC News, 2023). With an endangered species, such as the great white shark, it is important to establish that the cause of death is not from human activity. As fearsome as these predators may appear, the deaths they inflict on humans is infinitesimal in comparison to the deaths of their kind at our hands.

It is estimated in 2018 that around 100 million sharks are killed every year by humans. While the figure might seem overwhelmingly large, it can be acknowledged that it is a conservative estimate and suggests that the actual number could be closer to 273 million sharks killed annually. Based on the conservative estimate of 100 million, this translates to approximately 11,416 sharks being killed globally every hour (Haigh, 2023). A staggering number compared to the 4 human deaths that occurred annually between 2014 to 2018 (Fact Animal, 2023).

For these reasons, the excitement around the great white sharks arriving along East Atlantic coasts is well deserved. A potential growth for the entire population indicates the conservation efforts have had a positive impact on the sharks and have likely had impacts on other marine species as well. These sightings will likely continue to generate interest from the public, marine enthusiasts, and researchers, hopefully prompting the continuation of their conservation in these waters.

References

Alam, Hina. “Recent Shark Deaths in Canada a Sign That Efforts to Grow the Population Are Working.” CityNews Toronto, City News, 10 Aug. 2023, https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/08/10/great-white-sharks-population-canada/

CBC News. “Researchers Examine Body of Great White Shark Found on Cape Breton Beach.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 12 Oct. 2023, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/great-white-shark-ingonish-necropsy-found-1.6 994183.

CTV News. Great White Shark Spotted off the Coast of Nova Scotia | CAUGHT ON CAM. YouTube, YouTube, 21 Aug. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZWR6M3Q2Lo.

Fact Animal. “24 Insane Great White Shark Facts.” Fact Animal, Fact Animal, 21 Feb. 2023, https://factanimal.com/great-white-shark/.

Haigh, Phil. “How Many Sharks Are Killed Each Year and How Many Humans Are Killed by Sharks?” Metro, Metro.co.uk, 7 Aug. 2018, https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/07/many-sharks-killed-year-many-humans-killed-sharks-7808952/

Márquez, Melissa Cristina. “Great White Sharks Washing up in Canada Is a Positive Sign for Their Population, Says Experts.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2023/08/29/great-white-sharks-washing-up-in-canada-is-a-positive-sign-for-their-population-says-experts/?sh=6ed1cc9b2fb6.