North Carolina has a diverse ecosystem with over 70 species of sharks either migrating through or inhabiting its waters that changes with each season.

There are 10 different species of sharks that have been selected to research and study in the Onslow County area of North Carolina, from Surf City to Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune. These sharks have been selected for their proximity to nearshore and estuaries, historical seasonal migrations in this region, and frequently asked questions. The ten species of sharks being examined are:

Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terranovae

Atlantic spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias

Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus

Bonnethead shark, Sphyma tiburo

Bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas

Dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscuras

Great white shark, Carcharhinus carcharias

Sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus

Sand tiger shark, Carcharhinus taurus

Spinner shark, Carcharhinus brevipinna

Sharks are a cartilaginous species (meaning cartilage instead of bones), so they differ from other fish species. As a predator, they help maintain ecosystems by keeping the food chain in balance. They have longer gestation times due to slow growth, females mature at a later age, and they produce fewer offspring (ASFMC, 2024, p. 2-3). This makes them vulnerable to overfishing as target fishing and/or as bycatch. Sharks produce live young or through eggs inside the mother at a larger pup size to enhance the survivability of young. Sharks also tend to migrate in groups of the same sex at specific times of the year to mate, gestate and give birth, so at times, this pattern makes them more vulnerable to overfishing and/or bycatch.

© 2024 Sharks of onslow county.