From great whites and blues to tigers and bulls, people have spotted so many sharks this year that at least one news outlet touted it the “summer of sharks.” But what’s really behind the uptick in shark sightings in 2022?
The main reason may be simple: more eyes on the ocean. This includes lifeguards, but also the scientists and hobbyists that are increasingly using technology like drones to scan coastlines for sharks.
“More people are using the water than ever before and those people are now equipped with a cell phone that can instantaneously share any observation,” says Neil Hammerschlag, director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School.
One way to share such observations is on apps like Sharktivity, which allow citizens to quickly report any fins spotted on the surface. The app — developed by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy to help ...
