Wildlife

Around 10,000 sharks swarm Palm Beach County coast

Blacktip sharks head south for the winter. But this year the sharks didn’t show up for their Florida migration on time.

The sharks will typically first arrive in mid-January, but the waters off the coast of Palm Beach were empty until the end of the month.

But now that they’re here, the blacktip sharks are congregating in huge numbers.

Dr. Kajiura, Florida Atlantic University biologist, estimated more than 10,000 of the sharks are swimming just off the coast of Palm Beach, Florida. “The interesting thing is these sharks are right up against the shoreline. You could stand on the shore and toss a pebble and hit a shark, they’re that close,” Dr. Kajiura said.

So what’s up with the bizarre behavior from the sharks? Part of the reason could be 2016’s particularly strong El Nino. The phenomenon's effects can be felt across the globe, changing the behaviours of sharks and other marine animals including sea snakes, sea lions and seals.

Warming ocean temperatures could also play a role. If waters farther north are staying warmer for longer, then there's less reason for the blacktips to leave on time.

However, Dr Kajiura said the blacktip sharks are relatively harmless.