Groundbreaking Great White Shark Study Examines Passamaquoddy Bay as a Possible Breeding Area

By Vicki Hogarth, CHCO-TV NewsBreak26

It’s a sunny afternoon on the St. Andrews wharf as James Whitehead, Alastair Fox, and CHCO’s own Lukas Kohler prepare for a unique outing on Passamaquoddy Bay, assisting in what could become a groundbreaking moment in global shark research.

Their boat is one of several participating this week in a first-of-its-kind study investigating whether this Bay—already cherished for its biodiversity—might also be one of the world’s elusive breeding grounds for great white sharks.

“White sharks are difficult to see because they're they're not like a whale or a porpoise that comes up to breathe," said Fox to CHCO-TV. "So the dorsal fin is only on the surface for a very short time. Otherwise they're ten, 15ft below the surface. So having a drone, you get a much better view of them under the water. And the the idea is to go into shallow water where seals could be ledges, and also on sandy beaches, because they think that is where they breed.”

Dr. Stephen Crawford, a fish ecologist at the University of Guelph, leads the study. Crawford has spent five years gathering local and Indigenous knowledge from communities along the eastern seaboard. Many stories led him here, to the nutrient-rich, tide-driven waters of Passamaquoddy Bay. Back in 2022, he stopped by CHCO-TV to film a half-hour show about his research.

“Everybody in the science, most people in the science knowledge system, they just accepted the idea that white sharks were not territorial," said Crawford to CHCO-TV back in 2022. "Well, it might be that we are for certain periods. And I think the key there is Passamaquoddy Bay, Nova Scotia, Sable Island, Cape Breton. If these are destinations for the reproductively mature males and females, and if the males are setting up these territories, I think it's our responsibility as humans to keep an eye out for them, find out if they're doing this, and then stay away from them during the season. Partly for their purpose, we don't want to be interrupting them, but we probably should be telling people not to kayak around there because the male shark might treat a human in the water like it would treat another male white shark and just chase it out of the way.”

This week, volunteers are helping conduct boat and drone surveys across nine different regions of Passamaquoddy Bay.

The goal? To spot large white sharks—especially mature adults over five metres in length—and document any unusual behaviours that could suggest courtship or even territoriality, which has never been studied in the Northwest Atlantic.

“We're going to be cruising around Hard Wood Island up towards Bora, Quebec," said Fox. "Because there are lots of inlets, sandy beaches, and ledges. There have been a lot of seals in that area. So it's just a matter of slowly motoring around and keeping your eyes peeled. And then when we come in close to shore, let's put a drone up so you can check ours or whatever and look by and see if we can see anything from the air.”

For residents of Charlotte County and neighbouring Washington County, Maine, White Shark Week is more than just a research effort—it’s a celebration of the Bay itself. 

“Everybody's fascinated by sharks," said Fox. "And it seems to be a mystique about sharks because they are so elusive. And then you have films like Jaws that kind of turn them into this horrendous, killing machine. So, I think the great part about it is the community, the way it is banded together and all kinds of volunteers and boats, and we're covering a large area and from now until Saturday.”

Anyone with access to a boat or drone—or even a clear shoreline view—is encouraged to get involved. Volunteers are still welcome and can contact Dr. Crawford directly at scrawfor@uoguelph.ca with their availability.

If the results do point to Passamaquoddy Bay being a breeding ground, it will be a finding to celebrate—not out of fear, but in awe of the Bay’s natural complexity and the role it may play in the life cycle of a remarkable species.