This story was initially revealed in August 2020.
After the deadly nice white shark assault that occurred off the coast of Maine in 2020, some folks could also be questioning their information of the Maine ocean and its many inhabitants. A spot recognized for its lobsters and humpback whales, Maine isn’t regarded as a territory for sharks. But it’s dwelling to eight totally different shark species, together with the world’s quickest and the world’s second largest.
“It’s a incontrovertible fact that most individuals don’t know, and it simply blows their thoughts,” mentioned James Sulikowski, who has researched sharks off the New England coast for 20 years and has been featured in Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” packages. “Most of [the sharks in Maine] spend numerous time under the floor, so we don’t even know they’re there. That’s, I feel, what freaks folks out.”
But the sharks discovered off the coast of Maine don’t often come into contact with folks or pose any type of menace. Shark assaults are extraordinarily uncommon, Sulikowski mentioned.
“Any giant shark is doubtlessly a hazard to folks, say in case you’re taking a hook out of its mouth otherwise you’re feeding them,” mentioned John Mandelman, vice chairman and chief scientist on the Anderson Cabot Middle for Ocean Life on the New England Aquarium. “There are sharks that frequent Maine waters which can be giant and so they’re wild animals, so they need to be revered for that. However the danger of somebody who’s swimming or doing issues for recreation [being attacked by a shark in Maine] may be very low.”
Listed below are the eight sharks which were documented off the coast of Maine, all distinctive in look and habits.
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Spiny dogfish
A comparatively small shark, the Atlantic spiny dogfish grows as much as 4 ft lengthy, with a slim, grey physique sporting distinct white spots. It feeds totally on crustaceans, jellyfish, squid and education fish, and is commonly preyed upon by giant fish corresponding to purple hake and cod, in addition to bigger sharks and seals, based on info on the species supplied by NOAA Fisheries.
Spiny dogfish are additionally typically consumed by folks. In the USA, its fishery extends from Florida to Maine. At the moment, there’s little shopper demand for this animal’s meat within the states, however in Europe, it’s generally utilized in “fish and chips” dishes.
Like most of Maine’s sharks, dogfish migrate as much as Maine when the water warms in the summertime, then return south for the winter. Their frequent title is a nod to their many dog-like qualities, Sulikowski mentioned, together with their ferocious pursuit of prey and their tendency to journey in large packs. It’s often called Maine’s most ample shark.
Blue shark
Thought of probably the most lovely sharks, the blue shark has a darkish blue again, vibrant blue sides and a stark demarcation to a white underside. When mature, it usually measures between 6 and 9 ft lengthy, based on the Shark Analysis Institute. And it often swims removed from shore, although it sometimes ventures nearer to the shore at night time, notably round islands.
“It’s the subsequent most typical shark we have now in Maine for certain,” Sulikowski mentioned.
This shark is understood for cruising slowly on the floor of the water with the guidelines of its dorsal and tail fins seen. It feeds on squid, fish, small sharks and the very occasional seabird.
Basking shark
The basking shark is the second largest fish on the planet and the biggest shark that lives within the waters off New England. The shark’s Latin title, Cetorhinus maximus, interprets to “big-nosed sea monster,” an apt description. A mature shark of this species is usually 20 to twenty-eight ft in size. Nevertheless, adults have been recorded at lengths of over 40 ft, weighing near 19 tons, based on the New England Basking Shark Venture, a neighborhood sighting community for the species sponsored by the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance.
They’re typically seen touring and feeding close to the water’s floor, which gave rise to their frequent title “basking,” as in “basking within the solar.” Utilizing bristle-like buildings known as gill rakers, positioned at the back of their throat, they filter zooplankton (small organisms) out of the water to devour.
“They arrive right here yearly to feed on very particular forms of crustaceans and copepods,” Sulikowski mentioned. “They’re filter feeders, so they only swim round with their mouths open, and typically they’ll come tremendous near shore. 9 out of 10 instances that’s what folks see and suppose they’re white sharks, however they don’t actually have tooth.”
Shortfin mako
The shortfin mako is taken into account the quickest shark on the planet, in a position to attain burst swimming speeds of as much as 43 mph. It may develop to 12 ft in size and weigh over 1,000 kilos.
Usually discovered removed from shore, this shark is taken into account one of many best recreation fishes on the planet, with its meat, fins and oil all extremely valued. And because of its velocity and measurement, it’s thought of doubtlessly harmful to people, based on the Florida Museum of Pure Historical past.
“They’re within the pretty uncommon class in Maine,” Sulikowski mentioned. “They usually’re usually going to remain extra offshore. It’s an enormous quick predator so it likes to eat quick fish.”
Porbeagle
Porbeagle sharks are muscly, spindle-shaped sharks that develop to a median of 5 to six.5 ft lengthy and roughly 300 kilos. Recognized for migrating lengthy distances, they eat small fish, sharks and squid and are usually discovered within the open ocean. In truth, they’ve been found swimming as much as 2,300 ft underwater.
“What you’d work together with primarily in Maine could be the [porbeagle] infants,” Sulikowski mentioned. “The Gulf of Maine, notably our water in southern Maine as much as the midcoast, is a selected nursery floor. It’s the place [the porbeagle sharks] drop their children off.”
The title porbeagle most likely comes from a mixture of “porpoise,” referring to its form, and “beagle,” referring to its looking techniques, based on info revealed on-line by the Florida Museum of Pure Historical past.
Thresher
With a particularly lengthy tail fin, the Atlantic frequent thresher shark is simple to select from the group. In truth, this lengthy, scythe-like tail is what impressed their frequent title. They use it to stun fish earlier than consuming them. Additionally they have the flexibility to leap far out of the water and can typically conduct this maneuver when combating a fish hook.
Reaching upto 20 ft in size, they feed on education fish corresponding to herring and mackerel and infrequently on squid and seabirds.
Sand tiger shark
With a mouthful of slim, pointed tooth which can be at all times seen, it’s no surprise how the sand tiger shark bought its title. Nevertheless, this intimidating animal — starting from 6.5 to 10.5 ft in size — isn’t recognized to be aggressive to people except threatened, based on a write-up on the species revealed on-line by the Nationwide Aquarium. They eat fish, small rays and squids.
“That is the basic aquarium shark, with the massive tooth and form of strikes round trying tremendous scary — however it’s all present,” Sulikowski mentioned.
Usually discovered swimming close to the ocean ground, sand tiger sharks journey near shore, however they’re hardly ever noticed in Maine waters. The species is listed as weak globally by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature, and is critically endangered in some elements of the world.
In Maine, the taking of sand tiger sharks and different coastal sharks, together with the basking shark and nice white shark, is prohibited. To fish for blue, porbeagle, shortfin mako and customary thresher sharks, a Federal Extremely Migratory Species Allow is required. And for essentially the most ample shark in Maine, the spiny dogfish, folks should adhere to an annual quota, in addition to a fishing journey quota.
Nice white shark
Final however most well-known, the nice white shark has been swimming in Maine waters for a very long time, with elevated sightings in current many years linked to the regular enhance within the state’s seal populations.
“They’re coming right here to eat the seals,” Sulikowski mentioned. “There are not any inhabitants estimates for any of those sharks in our waters. However we all know they’ve been round [in Maine] water for a whole lot if not 1000’s of years.”
An grownup nice white shark averages between 10 and 16 ft lengthy, with a most size of 20 ft. Scientists have studied its advanced social behaviors and looking techniques, which trace at intelligence and extremely developed senses. It has been credited with extra deadly assaults on people than another species of shark, due mainly to its measurement, energy and the truth that it feeds on marine mammals near shore.
“We’re a coastal species too,” Sulikowski mentioned. “Everyone likes to go to the seashore and swim. It simply so occurs that animals stay within the water, they’ve this predator-prey relationship with one another, and we will get caught within the center.”
