Shark Side Story

Recent shark attacks in Cape Cod have caused swimming anxiety up and down the coast of New England. Although it seems unlikely that the crowded beaches on the 18-mile coastline of New Hampshire could be in danger, sharks are more common in this area than one might think. 

The chilly water temperature of NH seems like an unappealing habitat for a shark, however that isn’t true. Just this past July, Wallis Sands State Beach closed for two days after a lifeguard spotted two 6-foot sharks. No one was injured, and despite the sighting, there have been no shark attacks since 1936.

Lobsterman and self-described shark expert Brad Laslett said that he has seen his “fair share of sharks” while out fishing. “They’re really not going to do anything,” Laslett said. “In fact, most of the time around here it’s a Basking or a Blue shark and they barely even eat fish.”

A Basking Shark is a docile, large fish that feeds only on plankton. They range from 20 to 26 feet in length and are often seem swimming in the area. The Blue Shark is the most commonly spotted shark on the seacoast of NH. They are six to 10 feet in length. Blue Sharks diet typically consist of invertebrates. 

Great White Sharks are one of the three species of sharks that are universally dangerous to people. They are the only type of shark that ever come within a few hundred mile vicinity of NH. Even that is unlikely for several reasons. This is because, said Tony LaCasse, spokesperson for the New England Aquarium, Great Whites primarily eat seals, and the seal population north of Cape Cod is sparse. Additionally, the ocean floor off the coast of New Hampshire is rocky, making for tough swimming and hunting for a shark.

In short, the likelihood of kids boogie-boarding at Hampton Beach getting napped up by the next Jaws is slim.