A recent study conducted by Dr. Tristan Guttridge and his team has shed light on the presence of white sharks in the waters of the Bahamas, particularly in the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO), a deep-sea trench near Andros Island. This discovery is significant as white shark sightings in the tropics are rare, despite the animals overwintering in Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic shelf waters. The white sharks detected in the Bahamas were primarily larger juveniles or sub-adults, ranging in size from 2.1 to 3.7 meters, and were present between November and May, suggesting a seasonal pattern of presence in the area.
The Bahamas’ designation as a Shark Sanctuary and its ban on commercial longlining and gillnetting make it an important refuge for white sharks and other shark species. The researchers believe that white sharks may be exploiting the productive mesopelagic zone while in the Bahamas, potentially feeding on the abundant coastal sharks, rays, and fish species that inhabit the region. Dr. Skomal’s previous work hypothesizes that white sharks may feed on whales during their overwintering residency period, highlighting the potential for marine mammals to be part of the sharks’ diet in the Bahamas.
The team stresses the importance of continued collaborative monitoring and tagging programs to uncover the secrets of white shark space and habitat use in the Bahamas and beyond. The presence of white sharks in the Bahamas, particularly in the TOTO, suggests that the animals may be returning to historically important parts of their range as populations recover. This finding is significant as it provides valuable information about the behavior and movements of white sharks in tropical waters, where sightings have been scarce.
White sharks are known for their long-distance migrations and seasonal aggregations near pinniped colonies where water temperatures align with their preferred range. Scientists have observed and tagged white sharks in key sites around the world to learn more about their life histories. Studies using acoustic and satellite tags have provided insights into their movement patterns, revealing high site fidelity, seasonal residency, and long-distance migrations. Various biotelemetry studies have unraveled the mysteries of their horizontal and vertical space use in different regions, including the North Western Atlantic.
Despite being one of the most well-known Chondrichthyans, the future of white sharks is uncertain. In the North Western Atlantic, the population faced significant declines during the 1970s and 1980s due to bycatch and capture in commercial and recreational fisheries. However, protective measures introduced in 1997, including a ban on harvesting white sharks in the US Atlantic, have facilitated their recovery. Promising signs of recovery for the NWA population have been observed, with experts like Dr. Greg Skomal studying the individuals off Massachusetts. International agreements, such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, have also played a role in supporting the recovery of white shark populations worldwide.
