Great White Sharks in Virginia?
Carcharodon carcharias
Use these resources to learn how to identify a great white shark, find out what other shark species live in Virginia waters, explore our shark longline data over the years, and find answers to frequently asked questions.
great white shark ID GUIDEOTHER VA SHARKSSHARK DATA APP
Great white sharks are relatively uncommon locally and frequent cold and warm temperate seas. Juveniles have been caught on VIMS surveys in Virginia while larger individuals inhabit warmer ocean water.
Maximum size
Females up to 21 feet (6.4 m) and males up to 18 feet (5.5 m).
Range
Cosmopolitan in most seas and oceans, concentrating in temperate waters. Highly migratory with trans-oceanic movements. In the Western Atlantic from Newfoundland to Florida, Brazil and Argentina.
Diet
Wide range of bony fishes, smaller sharks, stingrays, and marine mammals, including scavenged carcasses. Occasionally prey on sea turtles and birds.
Depth Range
Primarily coastal and offshore continental shelves. May travel across ocean basins to reach spawning and hunting grounds off oceanic islands.
Ecology
Often seen at the surface, close inshore, but can also occur offshore and even penetrating shallow bays.