Shark sightings are a regular occurrence along the Alabama Gulf Coast, but Dr. Sean Powers insists that indicates a healthy ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico.
For those enjoying our beautiful beaches, Powers, head of the University of South Alabama’s Marine and Environmental Sciences Department, says most sharks that inhabit the shallow water in the nearshore zones are “really small.”
“Alabama has a diversity of sharks,” Powers said. “The Gulf has about 50 species with about 20 to 30 species that beachgoers and fishermen can encounter. Most of those are really small and only pose an aggravation to the fishermen.”
Powers said Alabama is a significant nursery ground for bull sharks and tiger sharks, and it’s not unusual to hear reports of bull sharks being hooked or sighted far up the Alabama and Tombigbee river systems.
“The furthest north a bull shark has ever been recorded is St. Louis on the Mississippi River,” he said. “So they are very well adjusted to the conditions in the bays along the Alabama coast.”
Powers said every time he gives a presentation on sharks. He emphasizes that any severe encounter with sharks is still a “rare, rare” occurrence.
However, he advises anyone visiting the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area to be mindful of the beach flag warning system.
“If they see a purple flag, that’s an indication of dangerous sea life,” Powers said. “If they see a shark, they can just withdraw, and the sharks will be on their way shortly. The bull sharks and blacktip sharks are the ones the beachgoers will probably even notice. The smaller ones, they probably won’t even notice.”