Sharks have been a hot topic of conversation around the Bay of Fundy ever since a great white was spotted near St. Andrews, N.B.
People familiar with the waters have known about the sharks for generations, but researchers say we know surprisingly little about the shark population in the bay and this summer they are trying to answer some basic questions.
The Sea Fox is a power boat based in St. Andrews that is serving a dual purpose this summer. It is a sport fishing boat, that often gets anglers up close with sharks, but the boat is also a research vessel. All of the sharks caught are on a catch and release basis.
Some are tagged and tracked by an authority on marine life in the bay.
“We’d like to know what the numbers are in the actual Bay of Fundy,” says marine biologist Stephen Turnbull. “A population estimate, but also, where they’re going in the bay and how long they’re staying for.”
Last week’s sighting of a great white shark near St. Andrews has captured the attention of researchers and the curious.
Whale watching boats leaving St. Andrews are full of passengers hoping to catch a glimpse of a shark.
Seeing a great white is rare, but fishermen, researchers, and the whale watching community have known for many years that there are lots of sharks in the Bay of Fundy. Whether there are more sharks this year, than in year’s past, is open for debate.
Chris Saulnier operates a whale watching excursion. He says the sharks may be following a larger than normal volume of natural food.
“The place is packed with squid, so I think they’re chasing the abundance of feed in the local area,” says Saulnier.
Turnbull has another explanation for an increase in shark sightings.
“There is a lot of boats in the water now and people are more attuned to watching for other things, other than just whales,” says Turnbull. “They’re looking for other marine life to enhance the experience. So, there is just more eyes on the water and more people aware of sharks in general now.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron.
