Sharks Distribution

Shark Distribution

Many people believe that sharks only live in the oceans. However, they are distributed in bodies of water found all over the world.

Most sharks live in salt water though which is likely to be where that misconception develops from. There are many sharks that live in rivers that have freshwater as well. Some live in small swamps and lagoons out there where people wouldn’t expect to find them. They are able to live in a diverse habitat when it comes to the temperature as well.

There are species of sharks that love the warmer climates. They are found along the areas of California, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico. Others though live in the frigid waters of Alaska and around New York and New Jersey where it is often colder. Even in Iceland there are some species of sharks that are able to survive. Yet they are able to thrive there due to the ability to slow down their metabolism and to conserve energy.

Sharks aren’t territorial so that means they are more likely to freely swim around out there in the open waters. They may stay in a given area for a large portion of their lives. However, it isn’t uncommon for them to swim many miles each day out of curiosity and in search of food.

Many species of sharks migrate for mating so you will find them in different locations when it is time for this to take place. Many of them will migrate to warmer areas for mating. This is why there seems to be such an abundance of sharks in the areas of Florida and California during mating season. However, Sharks will generally go their own direction again though after the mating season has been completed.

This migration process to warmer climates tends to bring along plenty of observers though. Many people are fascinating with the idea of being able to see real sharks. So tourism is definitely going to be higher during the shark migration period.

"Sharks will generally go their own direction again though after the mating season has been completed."

Due to the expansion of areas that humans now use for boating, fishing, and swimming, the natural habitat and distribution of sharks continues to get smaller. This is why they are often found in places where they didn’t exist before. Many experts believe this can also be the result of global warming as well.

This is why you may hear about sharks being located in areas where they never were before. When you are in the water, you need to be aware that sharks may be there too. This isn’t to scare you but to help you to be prepared for such possibilities.

Many times you won’t even notice that sharks are in the area. They tend to stay where they can be well hidden. If you are out swimming you are less likely to encounter them than if you are on a boat or surfing. Yet keep in mind the changes to the water including pollution and an need to find food can being them much closer to the shore than you might think.

Most species of sharks don’t do well in captivity. Even with environments that are very similar to those in the wild they tend to die within the first year or two. They are also more susceptible to types of bacteria when they are in captivity.