newenglandsharks.com

Links to pages on this website are at the bottom of each page.

Introduction- This website is about learning some basics about a particular group of fish - Sharks!
The emphasis will be on sharks found in New England waters. These shark species are also found in other
places around the world, so the web site should be of use to anyone interested in sharks.

I thank the many people who have sent me photos and information for this website.
If you have comments, questions, suggestions, interesting shark information, or photos;
please e-mail me at: capt.tom@comcast.net

I put this website up because I was tired of reading and hearing erroneous information on sharks. I had my
own first hand experiences with sharks that contradicted what I was reading and hearing about them.

I make every effort to ensure the info on this website is correct.
This website was destroyed by an incompetent web host in 2011. I am now using a new website tool; and a
new webhost server. I try to get the site readable on Internet Explorer, and Firefox. I keep it basic.
Depending on your browser you might find some text lines overlap. - Tom

Shark species have been around under our boats and noses for thousands of years, and I am sure there
are more undiscovered shark species out there in the ocean. In 1758 scientists classified about a dozen fish
species as sharks. Communications were poor then, the ocean is an enormous alien place, and scientists
had scant resources and limited mobility to investigate the watery world. Through the years, our growing
knowledge of sharks allowed us to classify 370 species in 1984, and today in 2014, about 460 plus species
of sharks have been classified. I say plus' because there may actually be closer to 500 species of sharks,
since new species are constantly being discovered and added in each year. Eventually, a new updated
classification will emerge.
There was an incredible lack of knowledge about shark species until the 1940s, when the Navies and Air
Forces of the world got interested in sharks-because of survivors at sea encountering sharks during World
War II. The 1975 movie "Jaws ," spurred the public's interest in sharks; especially the white shark,
Carcharodon carcharias. The white sharks received protection in 1997, and are on the increase in New
England, especially off the seal colony at Chatham, Cape Cod Mass. Thirty eight whites have been tagged
there by Mass. State biologists, thru 2013.
Approx 18 more have been tagged in 2014.

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With today's advanced technology, and people
spending more time in, on, under and over the ocean,
a better understanding of the ocean and its inhabitants
is emerging. Communications around the world are
much better now, so an unusual find may not go
unreported as it undoubtedly has in the past.
There are now more marine biologists and plenty
of cameras, and cell phone cameras worldwide to document a new or rare fish.

In the United States, on the East coast and Gulf of Mexico, from Maine to Texas, there are about 35
species of sharks. There are about 13 regularly occurring shark species in the New England area; and
from that group, only a half dozen species that you are likely to encounter. (blue-shortfin mako- white-
sandbar-porbeagle -thresher- sandtiger and those pesty dogfish) With a little effort and interest, you can
learn about those species, and how to identify the sharks that ply the coastal New England waters. We have
some of the world's largest makos, porbeagles, whites and blue sharks in our waters.

All the web pages on this site are listed below. They will also be listed again
at the bottom of each individual webpage.