Sharks and Rays

tan shark swimming above sandy bottom in shallow water
Juvenile Lemon Shark - Virgin Islands National Park

NPS Photo/Richard Lincoln

Popular culture may have led you to believe that sharks are predators you should be frightened of. In reality, only a few of the over 470 species of sharks and rays are aggressive or dangerous to humans. They have much more to fear from us than we do from them, since fishing nets and the market for shark fins pose serious threats to these animals.

Unlike most bony fish that lay millions of eggs, sharks and rays mature slowly and bear relatively few young, making their populations especially vulnerable to the dangers facing them. It is important that we work to protect these amazing fish, since these predators play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems – they’ll eat almost anything, including carcasses!

Many species of sharks and rays can be found in coastal national parks. Park scientists at places like Cape Cod, Dry Tortugas, and Point Reyes study sharks and rays to learn more about their role in ocean health. Visit specific park websites to learn about where you can see sharks and rays, as well as for important safety messages about visiting those areas.

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Showing results 1-10 of 12

  • Ala Kahakai at Puʻukoholā

    • Type: Place
    • Locations: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
    Paved pathway by the sea with Hualalai volcano in the far distance

  • Hale o Kapuni Heiau

    • Type: Place
    • Locations: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
    Pathway with NPS wayside, overlooking ocean bay
  • Cape Cod National Seashore

    Nauset Light Beach

    • Type: Place
    • Locations: Cape Cod National Seashore
    A bronze-colored bluff backs an open beach at low tide with the sky reflected in a rivulet of water.

    Named for the famous red and white lighthouse that stands on the bluff above, Nauset Light Beach in Eastham features a sandy beach that changes with the seasons.

  • Cape Cod National Seashore

    Coast Guard Beach

    • Type: Place
    • Locations: Cape Cod National Seashore
    A man, woman, and two children stand together on the beach as the waves roll in.

    With its caramel sands and dynamic coastline, Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is regularly listed among the top beaches in the US.

  • Canaveral National Seashore

    Sharks of Canaveral National Seashore

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: Canaveral National Seashore
    A lemon shark in the Atlantic Ocean.

    Canaveral National Seashore is home to a variety of wildlife. Whether in the lagoon or the ocean you can find one of the most elusive and feared species on the planet. The shark!

  • Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

    Hopewell Culture Shark Teeth

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
    3 rows of triangular shark teeth with the numbers 2832 on the bottom row

    Collecting shark teeth has been something that human beings have done for thousands of years, dating back to the Hopewell culture and likely beyond. Discover where the Hopewell found these collectibles and what they utilized them for when you read more about this triangular treasure.

  • Point Reyes National Seashore

    Scientists Dive Deep into a White Shark Mystery at Tomales Point

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: Point Reyes National Seashore
    A shark with a gray back and white belly swims just below the water

    For sixteen years, Dr. Paul Kanive and Scot Anderson (California White Shark Project) never failed to see the legendary Mr. Burns, a 17-foot male with a big bite taken out of his tail, at Tomales Point. During their 2023 field season, however, the team saw atypical shark numbers at the site—and no Mr. Burns.

  • Cape Cod National Seashore

    Marine Debris Bites: Finding Artful Opportunities to Bring Awareness to Issues in the Marine Environment

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: Cape Cod National Seashore
    A woman holds onto the front of a shark sculpture she created out of marine debris

    Marine debris pollutes natural areas across the globe, including the waters of Cape Cod National Seashore. To address the impacts of marine debris, we can remove and document what is there, spread awareness of the issues, and focus on prevention. With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Cape Cod National Seashore – in partnership with the Center for Coastal Studies and debris artist, Cindy Pease Roe – has installed a marine debris display at Herring Cove Bathhouse.

  • Point Reyes National Seashore

    Scientists Publish First Study of White Shark Population Trends off of California

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: Point Reyes National Seashore
    White shark dorsal fin cutting the surface of the water. The trailing side of the fin is jagged.

    Great white sharks may not have fingers, but they do each have something akin to a fingerprint. The rear edge of their dorsal fins feature unique patterns that can be used to distinguish individuals. These patterns have been key to solving basic mysteries about central California's white sharks. For example, how many are there? And How is the population changing over time?

  • Dugongs and Megalodon Sharks in the National Capital Area

    • Type: Article
    • Locations: National Capital Parks-East
    • Offices: Museum Management Program
    Shark tooth

    Unexpected finds in the National Capital Area provide clues to species distribution during different points in geologic history. A fossilized dugong rib bone found during construction of the Suitland Parkway indicates that these marine mammals, only found in Indo-Pacific oceans today, were present in an ancient ocean once covering this region 54-5 million years ago (MYA).

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Last updated: May 19, 2017

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