The Oregon coast, with its dynamic marine environment, is home to several shark species. These predators play a significant role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.
Common Shark Species of the Oregon Coast
The waters off the Oregon coast host a variety of shark species, each with unique characteristics and habitats.
Great White Sharks are recognized by their blue to gray top and white underside. These powerful sharks can grow up to 21 feet long and weigh over 4,000 pounds. They prefer temperate waters, found from nearshore areas to depths of 4,100 feet, and may swim into shallow waters. Their diet primarily consists of marine mammals like seals, sea lions, and elephant seals, but also includes fish, other sharks, dolphins, and whales.
Blue Sharks are named for their brilliant blue coloration, with a slender body, long pointed nose, and distinctive long pectoral fins. They typically reach lengths of up to 12 feet. These highly migratory sharks are found in temperate and tropical oceans globally, roaming open and coastal waters. While they prefer deeper, cooler waters, they can sometimes be seen near the surface. Their diet includes octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, various fish, crabs, lobsters, and occasionally seabirds.
The Salmon Shark is a robust species, typically measuring 6.5 to 8 feet, with some reaching up to 10 feet. They have a stout body, pointed snout, and large black eyes, appearing dark bluish-gray to black on top with a white underside often marked by dark blotches. These sharks are common in the cold-temperate and subarctic waters of the northern Pacific, including Oregon’s coastal areas. As their name suggests, their primary prey is salmon, but they also feed on squid, sablefish, herring, walleye pollock, and even sea otters and birds.
Common Thresher Sharks are easily identified by their exceptionally long, scythe-like tail, which can be nearly half their total body length. They can grow up to 20 feet long and are typically brown to black on their upper body with a white underside. Thresher sharks primarily inhabit the open ocean but are also found in coastal waters over continental shelves, often migrating seasonally. They use their elongated tail to stun schooling fish like anchovies, sardines, and mackerel, and also prey on squid, crustaceans, and seabirds.
Soupfin Sharks are slender, with a large mouth and a long, narrow snout, growing up to about 6.5 feet. Their coloration ranges from bluish-gray to dark gray on top and white underneath, and they have a second dorsal fin positioned above their anal fin. These sharks inhabit temperate waters worldwide, including the continental shelf off North America, from close inshore to depths of 1,500 feet. They often forage near the muddy seafloor and sometimes enter bays. Their diet includes bony fish, cartilaginous fish, cephalopods, crabs, shrimp, and lobster.
Understanding Shark Behavior and Safety
Shark encounters along the Oregon coast are rare. Most interactions involving humans are cases of mistaken identity, where sharks may confuse a human silhouette with typical prey like seals. Great White Sharks are most active from September through November, a period sometimes called “Sharktober,” which coincides with the elephant seal pupping season, a significant food source.
To minimize the low risk of an encounter, ocean users can follow safety guidelines. Surfing or swimming in groups can deter sharks, as they often prefer solitary prey. Avoiding dawn and dusk hours, particularly during “Sharktober,” and staying clear of river mouths, offshore sandbars, or reef breaks, where sharks may hunt, can also reduce potential interactions. If a shark is sighted, remaining calm and appearing “un-seal-like” by staying vertical in the water rather than making frantic movements is advised.
In the rare event of a shark bite, the shark typically performs a “bite-and-run” behavior. The priority should then be to get to shore quickly and apply pressure to any wounds to control bleeding. Beyond shark-specific advice, general ocean safety practices are important; this includes being aware of cold water temperatures, rip currents, and unpredictable “sneaker waves” that can surge unexpectedly onto the beach.
Conservation and Coexistence
Sharks serve as apex predators within marine ecosystems, helping to maintain balance and biodiversity. By preying on sick, weak, or overabundant animals, they regulate fish populations. This regulatory function prevents any single species from dominating an area, contributing to the health and resilience of habitats like kelp forests and seagrass meadows. Healthy shark populations indicate a robust marine environment.
Despite their importance, shark populations face various threats, including overfishing, incidental bycatch, habitat degradation, and climate change. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these species. For example, Great White Sharks and Basking Sharks are protected under federal and state laws, making it illegal to target or harvest them.
Research institutions, such as Oregon State University’s Big Fish Lab, actively study shark movements and populations through tagging and observation, providing data for conservation planning. Understanding and respecting marine life is important for ensuring the well-being of sharks and the overall health of the ocean. These efforts support coexistence between humans and the sharks that inhabit the Oregon coast.