Multiple great white sharks have migrated into Atlantic Canada waters as part of their regular seasonal migration, according to tracking data from the nonprofit research organization OCEARCH on July 8, 2026.
A 10-foot-long juvenile female great white shark named Bella, weighing approximately 730 pounds, was tracked moving through the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Quebec's Magdalen Islands.
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Another young female shark named Brookes, measuring 8 feet long and weighing over 450 pounds, was recorded entering the Bay of Fundy near the Maine-Canada border on July 4.
Signs of Recovery
The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory stated that the population of white sharks is showing signs of recovery after being heavily depleted from the 1960s to the early 1990s due to unregulated fishing.
Protective measures and a rebounding seal population, which serves as a vital food source, have contributed to increased shark sightings in the region.
"White sharks have been using Atlantic Canada waters for thousands of years — it is part of their natural geographic range," said John Tyminski, OCEARCH data scientist.
Tyminski noted that improved satellite tracking technology and public observations are making encounters more visible, signaling a positive ecological trend.
"We're now seeing signs of the white shark's recovery and, in general, a return to ocean abundance," Tyminski said.
He emphasized that the resurgence of these apex predators is necessary for maintaining healthy marine environments.
"This is a wonderful success story as apex predators like white sharks are vital to having healthy, balanced oceans," Tyminski said.
