White Sharks Finally Catch A Break
By Mary Jane Schramm
It was dark night, and the vessel Merva W sat anchored off Southeast Farallon Island in NOAA’s Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Owner Mike McHenry and his crew were on a mission. They were chucking fish guts and huge, baited hooks overboard to the delight of sea lions who leapt and jostled for the gory leftovers. The Farallones sharks were known as the biggest bad-ass whites, and just seeing one was rare. But, suddenly, a tall, triangular dorsal fin broke the surface: a white shark, aka great white shark: Carcharodon carcharias. Soon, another appeared, and eventually others were drawn in. That night, at least five white sharks visited the boat. And by daybreak, four 13- to 16-footers had been hooked, shot dead, and yanked aboard the Merva W’s deck with a hydraulic winch. The 1982 story made headlines worldwide, and McHenry and crew were hailed as heroes.
CHECKS AND BALANCES: White sharks, being apex predators, are vital to the marine ecology of the ocean, so federal and state agencies, science and conservation groups had a different take on things. The Farallones sharks are ecologically important, since all are breeding age adults and sub-adults. Plus, they kept in check the burgeoning pinniped populations - seals and sea lions.
SEAFOOD DELIGHTS: Experts from Pt. Blue Conservation Science (then “Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory”) had long studied them, documenting their predation patterns. (Farallones “Seasonal Specials” feature elephant seals, fat from months spent feeding at sea. Harbor seals and sea lions, though available year-round, are chuck steak to the e-seals’ Kobe). Local white shark numbers were estimated at a couple hundred. But take away four lusty, hungry adults, and you get ….?
REPERCUSSIONS: The Pt. Blue data showed, “The elimination of four sharks from the population in 1982 resulted in a significant decline in shark attacks witnessed at the Farallones during 1983-1985,” Their simultaneous slaughter had destabilized the balance between predator and their prey over several years. This jolted advocates into forming a coalition of scientists, conservationists, agencies, fishermen (happy to see fewer sea lions compete for “their” salmon); and, commendably, surfers. They secured passage of California’s Assembly Bill 522 that, effective January 1994, protected white sharks from fishing and hunting throughout California waters.
SHARK CIRCUS: That threat was gone now, but others remained. In the late 1990s shark tourism flourished, unregulated. Vessels jockeyed for position in Fisherman’s Bay and Mirounga Bay, their operators eager to deliver the ultimate (and highly lucrative) cage dive experience. Crews chummed with fish, cow parts, blood, and even frostbite-yellow whole chickens. When a natural shark attack occurred, vessels charged in, often driving sharks permanently away from their hard-won kills. For a species that migrates thousands of miles annually, losing even one calorie-rich seal meal could leave it nutritionally deficient at the end of its journey. Diseases from chum and chemical attractants were added concerns. So, in 2003 Pt. Blue issued a “Call for the Regulations of White Shark Adventure Tourism and Research Activity at the Farallon Islands, California.” The Farallones Sanctuary Advisory Council Wildlife Disturbance Working Group met with biologists, the industry, and other experts, and in 2009, with further input and public comment, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enacted regulations keeping vessels 50 ft. from white sharks near the islands, and forbade use of attractants in sanctuary waters.
REAPING REWARDS: With protections in place, there was hope these measures would help the whites increase; a 2011 survey had counted just 219 individuals. But, in May 2021, biologists from Stanford University, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Oregon State University announced they now number around 300! While still low, it validates the benefits that science-informed wildlife protection and management can provide - even to a species as magnificently formidable, yet vulnerable, as white sharks.
For the White Shark Stewardship Project, see https://farallones.noaa.gov/eco/sharks/
For OSU-TOPP study details, see https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/white-shark-population-small-healthy-coast-central-california-study-finds
Photo Credits:
Top: Farallones sharks are all adults or subadults- apex breeders and feeders. Photo: NOAA Fisheries
Middle: Farallones white sharks now number around 300. Photo: WikiCommons (cc-by-2.0).
Bottom: Whitesharkfin1- ScotAnderson.jpeg
