Quick Take
- Hundreds of sharks this close to shore in August sounds alarming, but the real reason they're here might surprise you. Understand the migration →
- Your instinct around this many sharks in the water is probably wrong, and getting it right matters. Get the safety advice →
- Blacktip sharks return to this exact stretch of Florida coastline year after year for a specific reason, and it goes beyond water temperature. See why they return →
- A viral video turned a routine migration into a spectacle, though what it actually captured is far more remarkable than it looks. See the video highlights →
Many shark species migrate north to south each year to get to warmer waters. The blacktip shark migrates along the east coast. This Instagram post by @jermjohnston shows these sharks on their annual journey.
Blacktip sharks travel north and south each year as part of their migration to warmer waters.
©Pommeyrol Vincent/Shutterstock.com
Shark Migration
The video above shows what is most likely a blacktip shark migration. While the exact species isn’t specified in the post, these sharks are known to travel along New Smyrna Beach, which is located in Florida south of Jacksonville. These sharks travel north and south along the east coast depending on the season, spending the colder parts of the year in the south. They often travel down to Southeast Florida, particularly around Palm Beach, during the winter months. When it starts getting warmer in the spring, they travel north to near the Carolinas. So, is August a bit early for migration? While their migration patterns are a bit nuanced, it’s not strange to see these sharks around New Smyrna Beach this time of year. Part of the reason is due to the amount of available food along this migration route.
With just how close blacktip sharks get to the shore, it’s smartest to stay out of the water during their migration periods. While there are no blanket bans on swimming during migration season, it’s always best to practice caution around sharks, especially this many. Sharks are typically shy or cautious around humans, and most attacks are accidental. However, they can easily mistake humans for prey, so it’s best to avoid putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Instead, watch the sharks migrate from the safety of shore. Hundreds of sharks swimming together can be an amazing sight.
