LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — A study of great white sharks spotted in waters around the Hawaiian Islands finds that there have been recorded observations of them every month except November, according to the Journal of Marine Biology.
Satellite tracking studies have previously shown that Hawaii’s great white sharks are migrants from population groups off California and Mexico. A relatively small proportion of those West Coast sharks migrate all the way to Hawaii, which is why they are so rarely seen, according The Garden Island (http://is.gd/ddhfF9 ).
The paper, “Occurrence of White Sharks in Hawaiian Waters,” was written by Kevin Weng of the University of Hawaii Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and Randy Honebrink of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources.
The authors reviewed newspaper accounts of shark attacks, shark control program catch records, photos and videos from various sources, and satellite tracking data. Only data that could be confirmed as pertaining to white sharks was included in the analysis.
“We learned that white sharks occur in Hawaii across a broader part of the annual cycle than previously thought,” Weng said. “This is important for our understanding of white shark life history and population.”
DLNR chair William Aila said the study is valuable because it provides a better understanding of the biology and behavior of white sharks, and that information is useful for managing them.
Weng said male and female white sharks have different migration patterns.
“Males have been recorded in Hawaii from December through June, but females have been observed here all year round,” he said.
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Information from: The Garden Island, http://thegardenisland.com/
