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(Top) White shark at the surface - Photo © Michael Heilemann (Creative Commons). (Below) White shark © G-NA (Creative Commons).
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Carcharodon carcharias
(Linnaeus, 1758)
A lot of people are surprised to learn that the white shark frequents the east coast of Canada, and even the St. Lawrence. The white shark is undoubtedly the best known and most feared shark. Its maneater reputation, which comes from movies such as «Jaws» and from overly sensationalistic media reports, is false. However, this shark is considered dangerous and it occasionally attacks people.
On the East Coast, the white shark is present off all of the maritime provinces. Accidental captures and sightings take place in the Bay of Fundy, in Cape Breton, around P.E.I., and on the northern shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary. A white shark was even brought ashore at the Forestville wharf, less than an hour from Les Escoumins, a popular dive destination in Quebec. Obviously, this was a very rare event. No white shark has been reported in the estuary for many years and it has never been observed by divers in Canada. |
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Scientific Name:
Carcharodon carcharias* (Linnaeus, 1758)
*sharp-toothed shark
Common Names:
White shark
Great white shark
White pointer
White death |
Requin blanc (Fr.)
Grand requin blanc (Fr.)
Carcharodon comes from the Greek words "karcharos," meaning "to sharpen", and "odous," meaning "teeth". Maximus is a Greek word meaning "point" or "type." |
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The Atlantic population of the white shark is considered Endangered by the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada).
White shark - Carcharodon carcharias
Atlantic population
Status: Endangered (2006)
Canadian Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
Click HERE to go to COSEWIC's web page on the white shark (Atlantic).
White shark - Carcharodon carcharias
Pacific population
Status: Data Deficient (2006)
Canadian Occurrence: Pacific Ocean
Click HERE to go to COSEWIC's web page on the white shark (Pacific). |
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Assessment and Status Report
on the
White Shark Carcharodon carcharias in Canada, COSEWIC
COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN CANADA, 2006
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Pranschke, J. L., 2000, The use of carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses for the determination of carbon source and trophic position of Somniosus microcephalus, Carleton University, Ottawa.
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Stokesbury M.J.W., Harvey-Clark C., Gallant J., Block B.A., Myers R.A., 2005, Movement and environmental preferences of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) electronically tagged in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada, Marine Biology.
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Le naturaliste canadien, Déc. 1960. Université Laval
Les nouvelles du large, (Bulletin no. 7) - GREMM, 18.06.1999
Les nouvelles du large, (Bulletin no. 8) - GREMM, 24.06.1999
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