CANADIAN SHARK ATTACK REGISTRY

Surfers leave water after seeing shark at White Point

Case number: 24
Date: 2019-07-31
Location: White Point, Nova Scotia
Incident type: Stalking encounter with no physical contact — Code: ST
Species (Suspected): White shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Possible cause(s): Seals nearby — (Unprovoked)
Result: No injury
Status: Type of incident and species unknown
Description: A group of surfers reported¹ seeing a one-metre-tall dorsal fin while surfing off White Point, Nova Scotia. At one point, the presumed shark found itself between the group and the beach although it is impossible to know if it was trying to block their path or if it was even aware of the surfers’ presence. Feeling that a shark may have been stalking them, the surfers headed for shore away from the fin, where they had to walk a long distance to return to their vehicles.

Assessment: Although white sharks were known to be in the general area at the time, and given the reported size* of the dorsal fin, the animal may also have been a basking shark feeding on plankton at the surface with no interest whatsoever in the surfers. The species is thus considered unknown.

Note: White Point is approximately 9 km from Kejimkujik National Park Seaside where large numbers of seals are known to congregate.

Grey and harbour seals were observed swimming among the surfers at White Point by ORS researcher Jeffrey Gallant on two consecutive days in July 2022.

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* The reported size of the dorsal fin would also eliminate the possibility that the animal was an ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which is often mistaken for a shark.
References:
¹ Diver Story of shark encounter along Nova Scotia’s south shore sparks concern among surfers. Global News. 31.07.2019. Online.
(Background) Surfer at White Point, Nova Scotia. Photo © Jeffrey Gallant | ORS
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Misrepresented and misunderstood, sharks play a critical role in North Atlantic ecosystems, but they are under increasing threat due to their unfair reputation, pollution, and a lack of public awareness. Please donate to help us study and protect the sharks of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Canada before it’s too late.Donations to ORS, an all-volunteer charitable not-for-profit organisation, are tax deductible in Canada. Canada Revenue Agency #834462913RR0001

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“Fear and indifference bite deeper than any shark.”— Jeffrey Gallant, St. Lawrence Shark ObservatoryTax deductible in Canada
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Misrepresented and misunderstood, sharks play a critical role in North Atlantic ecosystems, but they are under increasing threat due to their unfair reputation, pollution, and a lack of public awareness. Please donate to help us study and protect the sharks of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Canada before it’s too late.Donations to ORS, an all-volunteer charitable not-for-profit organisation, are tax deductible in Canada. Canada Revenue Agency #834462913RR0001

DONATE

“Fear and indifference bite deeper than any shark.”— Jeffrey Gallant, St. Lawrence Shark ObservatoryTax deductible in Canada
CRA #834462913RR0001DONATE