© 2024 WFAE

Mailing Address:
8801 J.M. Keynes Dr. Ste. 91
Charlotte NC 28262
Tax ID: 56-1803808
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Study: Sharks off North Carolina's coast have gotten smaller

The recent spate of attacks — seven since June in North Carolina alone — has little to do with the shark population off American coastlines. Shark attack, George Burgess says, "is driven by the number of humans in the water more than the number of sharks."
Carol Buchanan
/
iStockphoto
The recent spate of attacks — seven since June in North Carolina alone — has little to do with the shark population off American coastlines. Shark attack, George Burgess says, "is driven by the number of humans in the water more than the number of sharks."

A 50-year study of sharks off the coast of North Carolina found that many species have decreased in size over time.

Researchers started collecting data on 12 species of sharks in 1972 in Onslow Bay, just east of Jacksonville. A recently published study analyzing this data found all 12 species appeared physically smaller over the years. Declines in maximum sizes ranged from 10% for silky sharks to 35% for sandbar sharks.

There are many theories as to why the sharks are smaller, but none have been proven yet.

Joel Fodrie is an ecologist at UNC-Chapel Hill. He says it’s still unclear exactly why the sharks have gotten smaller, but commercial and recreational fishing may be a contributing factor.

“Because people catch some of the biggest individuals and even target big individuals, you're immediately going to pull those out of the population,” Fodrie said. “So if that was the only thing happening, you might see smaller average sizes.”

Fodrie added that this combination of fewer and smaller sharks has likely contributed to shifts in local ecosystems.

"People have shown that if you lose the big sharks… the turtles can get out of hand and they can eat all the grass. And that grass is really valuable,” Fodrie said. “So you don't necessarily want a world where you got a lot of turtles and no sharks. You have to maintain that balance."

Data also found that most species had decreased in population over time.

Fodrie says researchers will continue to gather data on these sharks.

Copyright 2022 North Carolina Public Radio. To see more, visit North Carolina Public Radio.

Celeste Gracia was born and raised in deep south Texas. She’s always loved to read and write, so when she discovered journalism in high school, she knew it was for her. She graduated from the University of North Texas. She previously interned at CBS News Radio in New York and Morning Edition in Washington D.C. She constantly craves cookies & creme ice cream and enjoys singing along to Broadway musicals.