A new joint study conducted by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries and OCEARCH found a potential great white shark nursery in the New York Bight off the Atlantic coast from Cape May Inlet in New Jersey to Montauk Point on the eastern tip of Long Island, New York.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, FAU assistant research professor and lead author Matt Ajemian, Ph.D., analyzed data taken from satellite and acoustic tags placed on 10 baby white sharks (less than 1 year old) in the region. The successful tagging of the 10 baby white sharks revealed a pattern of residency spanning multiple months and led to the confirmation that the New York Bight is a primary nursery for young white sharks in the late-summer to early-fall (August to October).
The project represented the first time baby white sharks have been tracked in the north Atlantic. Because baby white sharks are vulnerable to potential predators such as larger sharks, the more shallow nearshore waters of the New York Bight likely provide them an important refuge.
“It is vital that these baby white sharks reach maturity to ensure a stable and abundant future for this important apex predator,” Ajemian said. “The multi-tagging approach that we used provides us with a 4-D view of their habitats in space and time that will help us to monitor and manage this critically important species.”
By using multiple electronic tag technologies, which can have a battery life of up to ten years, researchers were able to track bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and distance from shore. The technology would enable researchers to create the most complete animal tracks and best characterization of long-term movement patterns of this species.
Data from this study will expand the body of information available to inform conservation efforts in the western north Atlantic white shark population.
According to the report, baby white sharks in this heavily-populated region also are exposed to anthropogenic impacts such as fisheries bycatch from gillnets, trawls, and rod and reel as well as coastal habitat degradation. Studies of baby white shark movements will help to gauge their exposure to these various human impacts.
“Fisheries and ocean resources managers can use information from our study to better assess the impacts of human activities on these baby white sharks and their habitats,” said Ajemian. “While considered less of a potential threat than overfishing, coastal habitat degradation and possible habitat modification from ocean energy development activities also can be assessed with this new information.”