A large great white shark, weighing 580 kilograms, has washed up on a beach in northern Nova Scotia, with researchers yet to determine the cause of its death, according to the Marine Animal Response Society, who conducted a necropsy on the four-metre long male shark near Pictou on Friday. The shark, which was found on a beach, is as heavy as a fully grown polar bear.

Great White Shark Conservation in Atlantic Canada

Experts suggest that conservation measures have helped the great white shark population recover from a drastic decline in the 1970s and 1980s, with evidence also pointing to climate change leading to warmer ocean temperatures, making it easier for some ocean species to spread northward. The non-profit group, Marine Animal Response Society, noted that the carcass was still fresh when examined, allowing for higher-quality samples to be collected.

The Marine Animal Response Society emphasized the importance of prompt reporting of such incidents, stating, “The sooner an animal is reported, the more we can learn,” which enables them to document findings more accurately and gather valuable information about species that are rarely available for scientific study. Sightings of great white sharks are being reported more frequently in Atlantic Canada, with the group attributing this to the ample food supply, including a healthy population of grey seals.

Shark Attacks in Canadian Waters

According to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory, the last confirmed fatal shark attack in Canadian waters occurred in July 1953, when a shark rammed a lobster boat, causing it to capsize, resulting in the death of one fisherman. The observatory's database includes 30 records of shark attacks in Canadian waters, dating back to 1691, with only four other reports of fatalities, all of which are considered plausible, and 24 encounters that did not result in human injuries.

The North Atlantic great white population has been protected in Canada since 2011 and in the United States since 1994. Despite the increased sightings, there have been only a few reported attacks in Nova Scotia, including an incident in August 2021, where a 21-year-old woman claimed to have been bitten by a shark, although the Canadian Shark Attack Registry considers this case plausible but unconfirmed due to a lack of evidence.

Recent Shark Encounters in Nova Scotia

In October 2023, an anonymous hunter reported that a shark had killed his dog as it was retrieving a sea duck close to shore, near Port Medway, N.S. As researchers continue to study the great white shark that washed up on the Nova Scotia beach, the public can expect more information on the cause of its death and the implications for shark conservation in Atlantic Canada. The Marine Animal Response Society will likely provide updates on their findings, which may shed more light on the increasing presence of great white sharks in the region.

  • Weight of the great white shark: 580 kilograms
  • Length of the great white shark: 4 metres
  • Year of the last confirmed fatal shark attack in Canadian waters: 1953
  • Number of shark attack records in Canadian waters: 30