Research from previous studies has shown that sharks are so transient that if one is killed, another will eventually take its spot.Īnderson said his division will continue to work with other agencies to expand outreach regarding hazards in the ocean, such as drownings, to include shark safety information “so people can make well-informed, fact-based decisions.” The study made clear that shark culling is not a solution. It’s the shark’s house, not ours.” Researchers tag a tiger shark off of Maui. People who enter the ocean have to understand and appreciate that it is essentially a wilderness experience. “This has been our focus for a long time. “We agree with the study’s recommendation that the best approach to reducing numbers of these incidents is to raise public awareness of what people can do to reduce their risk of being bitten,” he said. Courtesy: UH/HIMB Studyīruce Anderson, administrator for DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources, said the study provides important new insights into tiger shark movement behavior around Maui, and helps answer some questions about why that island has led the state recently in shark bites. Total numbers of unprovoked shark bites recorded on each main Hawaiian island, from 1995 to 2015. “These spikes occur all over the world, and are most likely due to chance,” he said. Meyer said shark behavior didn’t change year to year, and there was no shift in human behavior to account for the drop to only one shark bite last year. Shark bites around Maui reached a record high of eight in 2013. Carl Meyer was principle investigator for a two-year study on tiger shark behavior around Maui. “However, despite the routine presence of large tiger sharks in waters off our beaches, the risk of being bitten remains extremely small, suggesting tiger sharks generally avoid interactions with people,” Meyer said in a DLNR release Thursday. But he also cautioned against either presuming or ruling out that the primary cause for more bites is that more people are engaging in ocean recreation activities around Maui. The University of Hawaii’s Institute of Marine Biology conducted the research, which culminated this week in a report finding that the spike most likely isn’t due to changes in what humans are doing.Ĭarl Meyer, the study’s principle investigator, said the combination of more tiger sharks being around Maui Nui may explain the higher number of shark bites. Tiger shark bites peaked in 20, including two fatal attacks that spurred the state Department of Land and Natural Resources - working with the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, a data collection project - to commission a nearly $200,000 two-year study of shark spatial behavior on Maui. The habitat around Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe is ideal, with plenty of favorites on the menu like green sea turtles.īut these are also popular places for people to surf and swim, which is part of the reason researchers suspect Maui has had twice as many unprovoked shark attacks over the past 20 years as any other county in Hawaii. This unique, marine biologist-developed GPS device transmits scientific data, including location and depth, to give scientists a better understanding of the behavioral patterns of sharks.For tiger sharks, there’s just no place like Maui County. While it isn't possible to track Deep Blue, you can use tools like Ocearch, an interactive shark movement map, to track other famous great white sharks all around the world. The Megalodon was the world's most powerful ocean predator during its lifetime. The Megalodon was part of the Otodontidae species, a species that diverged into the great whites that we know today. That award goes to the Megalodon, a prehistoric predator over 60 feet long that toured the world's ocean millions of years ago. Though she might be the biggest great white ever filmed, she is not the largest shark specimen in history. However, she is often spotted in her usual territory, such as Hawaii and Guadalupe Island, during certain parts of each year. While multiple shark trackers exist, as of now, scientists are not tracking Deep Blue's movements. Though reports claim she has been tagged, Padilla denies these claims.

Researchers say that she will continue to grow in size over time, though at a much slower pace than before.Īs with most female great whites and great white sharks in general, Deep Blue has an estimated life expectancy of around 70 years. This massive great white shark is said to be around 50 years old.

Deep blue shark off of maui