3 white shark fatalities, within a 22 month period, along a 70 mile span of coastline…
I am curious to know if there are currently any studies happening with the transient white shark population in the Sea of Cortez? Within the spate of 22 months, 3 mollusk divers were killed by white sharks, thought to be large (one was reportedly 19ft) pregnant females. Geographically speaking, all 3 of these white shark fatalities occurred within a 70 mile span of coastline. All 3 were local fishermen, diving on hookah gear in approximately 30-40ft water, collecting mollusks from the ocean floor. We now know the upper Sea of Cortez is a nursery, with the pregnant white sharks arriving between December and January to give birth. Maybe scientists do not want to engage in tagging and tracking them because it would cause stress to the animals in the last stages of their pregnancies. However, considering a white shark birth has never been witnessed, and we know the time of year and where the pregnant white sharks will be, it kinda seems like the perfect opportunity to try and capture that phenomenon. I would love to see the geographical migratory pattern if one of these 🦈 ladies were tagged.
Victor Estrella (February 2022) off Yavaros, Sonora, Mexico
Manuel Lopez (January 2023) in Tobari Bay, Sonora, Mexico
Víctor Alejandro Soto García (December 2023) off Playa Tojahui, Sonora, Mexico