A 730-pound great white shark known as Bella is spending the summer in Atlantic Canada waters. The juvenile shark, measuring 10 feet long, was last tracked on July 4 as it moved through the Gulf of the St. Lawrence near Quebec’s Magdalen Islands by the OCEARCH shark tracking website based in Florida.
Bella first appeared off the Eastern Coast of Prince Edward Island on June 29, marking the first documented sighting of a great white shark in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence for the 2026 season, according to the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory.
The shark was initially tagged in Mahone Bay, N.S., last summer before migrating to the Gulf of Mexico for the winter. Bella has been on a journey northward over the past month, passing through various locations such as Cape Cod, the Gulf of Maine, south shore of Nova Scotia, north of Prince Edward Island, and currently in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
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While Bella’s presence may raise concerns about great white sharks in Canadian waters, experts emphasize that the sightings are part of normal shark behavior. The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory stated that white sharks visiting the region are now regular seasonal visitors and have been part of the natural ecosystem for thousands of years.
OCEARCH’s data scientist John Tyminski highlighted the historical significance of white sharks in Atlantic Canada, noting their recovery from past population declines due to fishing practices. The rebound of seal populations, a primary food source for white sharks, has also contributed to their resurgence in the area.
Advancements in satellite tracking technology and increased public participation in shark monitoring have led to more frequent white shark sightings in recent years.
