Although sharks typically get a bad rap, these fascinating creatures are actually quite common in US waters. In fact, there are more than 500 species of sharks swimming in the world’s oceans today! Here’s what you need to know about these amazing creatures.
Sharks in The US by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Types of Sharks in US Waters
Although there are more than 500 species of sharks swimming in the world’s oceans today, only a handful of these species can be found in US waters. The most common sharks in US waters include the following:
- great white shark
- tiger shark
- bull shark
- hammerhead shark
- leaky shark
- mako shark
- thresher shark
- whale shark
While most people think of sharks as being ferocious man-eaters, the truth is that only a small handful of these species are considered dangerous to humans. In fact, of the more than 80 million people who visit the beach each year in the United States, only around 10 will suffer a confirmed bite from a shark. And of those 10 people, only one or two will die from their injuries. When you consider these statistics, it’s clear that your chances of being killed by a shark are extremely low.
Shark Conservation Efforts in the USA
Despite their bad reputation, sharks play an important role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Unfortunately, due to overfishing and other human activities, many shark populations around the world are in decline. As a result, conservation efforts are underway to protect these animals. In the United States, Sharks Are apex predators meaning they’re at the top of the food chain and play an important role in keeping populations of other animals in check. apex predators help maintain healthy populations of prey species by preventing them from becoming overpopulated. This helps ensure that there’s enough food for everyone and prevents disease outbreaks that can occur when animal populations become too dense. Additionally, apex predators help keep coastal ecosystems healthy by eating sick and weak animals that could spread disease to other members of their species. As top predators, sharks play an important role in promoting biodiversity and keeping marine ecosystems healthy.
