New study shows US Gulf is winter habitat for great white sharks

For years, scientists believed that great white sharks only visited U.S. Gulf waters occasionally. But a new study shows that they have always spent their winters there.

Researchers tracking the movements of 92 white sharks over an 11-year period found that the U.S. Gulf of Mexico serves as a frequent winter habitat for the western North Atlantic population. The findings, published in the journal Wildlife Research, challenge long-held beliefs about where the ocean’s largest predatory fish spend the cold months.

The study analyzed satellite and acoustic tracking data Collected from sharks tagged between Nova Scotia and Jacksonville, Florida, between 2012 and 2023. Of the 92 sharks monitored, 57 were documented spending significant time in the Gulf or Strait of Florida, primarily between December and May.

Rather than simply passing through, many sharks remained in the bay for weeks or months. The researchers also discovered that many individuals returned to the same offshore areas over the course of multiple winters, indicating what biologists call site fidelity, or the tendency to return to familiar habitats.

The highest concentrations of shark activity occurred along the outer edge of the West Florida Shelf, particularly near Pulley Ridge, DeSoto Canyon, and the waters off the Florida Keys. Some sharks also migrated into the western Gulf of Mexico and Mexican coastal waters.

Scientists found that sharks of all life stages, from young juveniles to fully mature adults, used the Gulf of Mexico during their annual migration. Tracking data also showed that they spent most of their time in the upper 650 feet of the water column, often making deep dives that researchers believe are linked to feeding behavior.

This discovery has important implications for conservation. White sharks are considered vulnerable worldwide, and identifying key seasonal habitats helps fisheries managers and researchers better understand migration routes and protect important ecosystems.

Despite the findings, researchers stressed that there is no cause for concern among beachgoers. Most documented shark activity occurred off the coast of the continental shelf, away from heavily used swimming beaches. Meeting people is very rare.

However, for Gulf fishermen, the study reinforces the idea that these apex predators are a more regular part of the offshore ecosystem than previously thought. Rather than being rare visitors, great white sharks appear to be annual winter residents who silently patrolled the Gulf’s waters long before scientists had the technology to prove it.

keith lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outdoor journalist who lives in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthShoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoors column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St. Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s VisitTheNorthshree.com. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report radio show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and is proud to promote the unique fisheries of South Louisiana. To contact Keith email: keithlusherjr@gmail.com