'Jaws' territory is now a great white nursery with 18 young sharks found
Researchers have identified the waters off New York's Hamptons as a nursery for juvenile great white sharks. The study suggests that these young sharks use the area for hunting and protection before migrating to larger feeding grounds.
Why it matters
Understanding shark nursery locations is crucial for marine conservation and monitoring how climate change impacts marine biodiversity.
The waters off New York’s Hamptons, once immortalised as shark-infested territory in Jaws, are revealing a very different story. Researchers have confirmed a summer nursery for young great white sharks in the New York Bight, with studies showing juvenile whites repeatedly using the region’s coastal waters during their early years. NOAA lists Long Island among the known nursery areas for juvenile white sharks, while research published in Scientific Reports found that young sharks can return to the New York Bight in subsequent seasons. The Associated Press, in a September 1, 2026 report, documented the latest tagging work off Long Island, as scientists continue tracking sharks to understand their movements and how warming waters may be changing which species use the region.Why are baby great whites coming back?For juvenile great whites, the relatively shallow coastal waters around Long Island offer something valuable: food.
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