Thousands of blacktip sharks have been spotted off the coast of Florida making their yearly trip down the Atlantic coast in order to find food and warm water, according to Discovery. The migration, which begins offshore of the Carolinas, can be seen in an amazing aerial video obtained by The Sun Sentinel.
However, some experts are concerned due to the late start of the migration.
"What I can say is they are running late this year, and I'm curious to see if we have the same numbers that we've had in other years," biological sciences professor Stephen Kajiura told The Sun Sentinel.
Kajiura also pointed out the fact that some tagged sharks have been travelling farther, with some making their way as far north as New York in the recent years, a characteristic that he believes stems from shifting water temperatures; behavioral shifts have also been observed in certain species of sea snakes in the Pacific.
Many of these behavioral changes likely stem from El Niño, which has impacted water temperatures all over the hemisphere and altered wind patterns, a change that can affect sharks as well as other animals, including seals and sea lions.
When asked if Florida beach-goers should be concerned about the migration of sharks just offshore, Kajiura stated that there is really nothing to worry about, according to The International Business Times.
"The general answer is no. For the most part, these sharks are really skittish, so when you get in the water, they're going to scatter and go away," he said.
