A female great white shark named Bella, weighing at least 730 pounds, is currently spending her summer in the waters off Atlantic Canada. On July 4, the 10-foot-long juvenile shark was tracked moving through the Gulf of the St. Lawrence near Quebec’s Magdalen Islands, as reported by OCEARCH, a shark tracking website based in Florida.
Bella made her first appearance off the Eastern Coast of Prince Edward Island on June 29, marking the initial documented great white shark sighting in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence for the 2026 season, according to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory.
Initially tagged last summer in Mahone Bay, N.S., Bella has journeyed from Cape Cod, through the Gulf of Maine, south shore of Nova Scotia, north of Prince Edward Island, and most recently, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
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Although the increased sightings of white sharks may cause concern, experts emphasize that this behavior is normal. The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory stated that Bella’s presence is not unusual and highlights the fact that white sharks are now regular seasonal visitors in Atlantic Canada.
According to OCEARCH’s data scientist John Tyminski, white sharks have historically inhabited Atlantic Canada waters, and their presence signifies a positive shift towards ocean abundance following protective conservation measures.
White shark populations suffered a decline due to past fishing practices but have shown signs of recovery with the resurgence of seal populations, a key food source for white sharks. The utilization of advanced tracking technology and public contributions through citizen science initiatives have led to an increase in white shark sightings.
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