{"id":17211,"date":"2022-12-01T09:24:41","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T14:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=17211"},"modified":"2024-08-13T16:11:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T20:11:28","slug":"young-great-whites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/young-great-whites\/","title":{"rendered":"Shark Update: Are Young Great Whites Swimming Coastal North Carolina Waters?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
On October 28 off Jennette\u2019s Pier, Gumbo Jones caught a \u201cmystery shark,\u201d which marine biologists later determined to be a juvenile white shark. Science is showing that this area could be an overwintering spot for the young of this species. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Found in cool, coastal waters around the world, great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth. Estimating the total global population is challenging, however, and the true number is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientists have been able to monitor changes in the relative abundance of these animals in different regions. The great white shark population is estimated to have been reduced by 30 to 49 percent over the last three generations, making its conservation status \u201cVulnerable.\u201d Effective shark conservation and management relies on identifying areas that are crucial to the health of all life stages of shark species and how this might vary across seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientists wanted to understand the seasonal movements and habitat use within the northwest Atlantic Ocean of great white sharks during their first year of life. Using both satellite and acoustic tags \u2014 small sound-emitting devices that allow the detection and\/or remote tracking of organisms in aquatic ecosystems \u2014 the scientists were able to follow shark movements over two winter periods (December through April).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click for NOAA’s “ode to sharks and shark research.”<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n