A wave of shark sightings near Perdido Pass in Orange Beach earlier this month sent double-red warning flags up along the shoreline and left many beachgoers rattled, prompting local marine researchers to weigh in on what was actually happening in the water. Swimmers had been temporarily barred from the water after a large number of sharks were spotted congregating close to shore, an event that drew national attention even as officials eventually reopened the waters to the public.
Why So Many Sharks, So Close to Shore?
Marcus Drymon, an assistant research professor at the University of Alabama, and Jill Hendon, who manages the Shark Research Program at the Gulf Coast Research Lab, offered some clarity on the phenomenon. According to Hendon, near-shore waters actually serve as important nursery habitats for many shark species, meaning sharks are essentially always present in these areas, relying on them for food and protection from larger predators. What made this particular event so noticeable, she said, was simply the number of sharks gathering together in one relatively small area at the same time, likely drawn by an abundant food source.
The most common species found along the Gulf Coast include the Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, finetooth, bull, bonnethead, spinner, blacknose and sandbar shark, along with occasional sightings of great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead and tiger sharks, the latter of which can grow to 15 feet or more.
Should Swimmers Be Worried?
Both researchers stressed that humans are not a natural food source for these species. Drymon explained that most so-called shark attacks on humans are cases of mistaken identity, where a shark bites something it perceives as typical prey and quickly releases it upon realizing its mistake — which is why repeat bites in a single incident are rare.
As for the fish carcasses some beachgoers reported finding washed ashore around the same time, the researchers offered a few possible explanations. Hendon pointed to heavy boat traffic and the recent closure of snapper season, which may have led to more fish being caught and discarded. Drymon added that discarded carcasses could be drawing sharks in, while low salinity or shifting water temperatures could also play a role.
Practical Advice for Beachgoers
Despite the unsettling scene, both scientists offered practical, level-headed advice rather than alarm. Hendon recommended that swimmers stay alert to posted beach flags, avoid swimming near people who are wade fishing, and, for anglers wading in the surf, avoid keeping bait in their pockets while maintaining a long stringer for their catch. Drymon was more direct about the recent cluster of sightings specifically, saying he would not recommend swimming when such a large aggregation of sharks is present. Both agreed that these clustering events tend to be short-lived, with sharks typically dispersing again within a short period.