Sharks in New Hampshire Waters

There are over 450 species of sharks in New England waters year-round. Some are seasonal visitors, while others stay

put for the year. Are New Hampshire waters safe enough for swimming? First, let’s look at the shark facts.

Generally, there are about five shark species throughout the world that are responsible for shark attacks. Albeit only three of these species ever occasionally visit New England. Great White sharks have a specific habitat that they use in the Cape Cod area. Generally, great white sharks are not off the NH coast, because water temperatures are too cold.

Tiger sharks and bull sharks are occasional visitors to southern New England, yet their presence is so negligible, it is almost not worth mentioning. Blue sharks are the most common sharks in the area, which have been spotted off the NH coast. Blue sharks, which can be large, do not feed on mammals. Instead, they feed on mackerel, blue fish, stripe bass, and squid.

Sharks most commonly mistaken for great whites are basking sharks, which are the second largest sharks in the world. They have dorsal fins, but are very low-key and primarily eat plankton.

If shark bites ever do happen off the NH coast, it is probably a dog fish. If there are fish in the area with bathers, dogfish may pursue, and someone may be accidentally bitten. The bite will be painful, but not life threatening.

However, there’s good news. Shark attacks in New Hampshire are almost absolute zero. “Your drive to the beach is more likely to kill you than getting bitten by a shark,” said Tony LaCasse, the media relations director and spokesman at Boston’s New England Aquarium.

LaCasse mentions not to get on flotation devices and surfboards that look like the silhouette of a large seal or sea lion. “If you’re in an area where there are great white sharks, and you see a seal in the water, don’t swim,” LaCasse said. “That’s a potential preferred diet item of sharks and that can draw them into the area.”

One should not swim when visibility is low, such as dusk and dawn. Additionally, any shiny or metallic items should not be worn while swimming, as they may attract unwanted attention.

“If you’re in shark area, don’t swim in deep water by yourself.” LaCasse said. If one is alone in deep water, it is a lot easier to die because of blood loss, shock, panic, and the inability to get back ashore. Moreover, more swimmers in the water make it unlikely that a shark will engage in an attack.