On October 29, 2025 a recently deceased white shark had been found on the shores of Prince Edward Island National Park and a Park’s team was being assembled to tow the fish to shore and transport it to the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) where a necropsy would be performed. This was the fourth white shark to wash up within a National Park in the Maritimes in the past 3 years and investigating these deaths is important as so little is known about the natural history of this species in the region.
After a long tow to shore by zodiac and an entertaining drive to the AVC (disbelief from other drivers!) the shark was carefully yet respectfully disassembled to try and determine cause of stranding and death. The necropsy team, lead by Drs. Laura Bourque and Megan Jones, learned the shark had been eating well, as it had parts of harbour porpoise and a whole grey seal in its stomach, and there were no indications of boat strike or entanglement in fishing gear. The case is still being investigated and hopefully the team will learn more in coming months.
In 2021, the Great White Shark was listed as an endangered species under the Species at Risk Act. The main threat continues to be accidental mortality in fisheries. White Sharks travel widely, and a single individual may move throughout the Northwest Atlantic during its life. We don’t know exactly how many White Sharks live in Canadian Atlantic waters, but there have been only about 100 confirmed sightings along Canada’s Atlantic coast since 1874 although these have increased in recent years.
Interestingly, this 13-foot, 2000 lbs male shark had previously been captured and tagged by biologists in Massachusetts, USA. While it is sad to see such a magnificent animal die, we hope the opportunity to investigate its death reveals more about how white sharks live in our waters.
The interview CBC have done on November 12 is available to watch at this link (English only): Great white shark’s death in P.E.I. waters being investigated | CBC.ca
Article originally submitted to the Pathology & Microbiology Newsletter, Atlantic Veterinary College. Issue 73 December, 2025
Written by Dr. Dave McRuer in collaboration with Drs. Laura Bourque and Megan Jones