Shark population increases in Puget Sound area

Photo: KOMO News

After a large area of warm water in the Pacific Ocean called the "blob" hit the shark population a few years ago, the species are starting to recover and increase in the Puget Sound and Washington state.

There are arguably between seven to 10 species of sharks in the broader Puget Sound area. The most common type found is a small and skittish shark called the dogfish sharks.

One of the largest types is known as the sixgill shark. Those can grow up to 18 to 20 feet.

They live primarily 5,000 to 6,000 feet below the surface. The adults at their fullest size mostly reside in the far offshore waters of the Washington coast.

The females will return to Puget Sound when their pups are born. Juvenile sixgills live in Puget Sound at a length of eight to nine feet before migrating to the Pacific.

The risk for shark attacks in Puget Sound is exceedingly low.

First, that's because people don't swim in the waters as frequently as people do along the Atlantic. Secondly, the most prevalent sharks in Washington are ones that are small and non-threatening. Thirdly, most of the larger sharks swim at lower levels where the water is colder.

Lastly, the sharks that live in Puget Sound don't see humans as prey. They primarily eat other fish.

This article originally appeared in KOMO News here.