Valentine s Day has long since passed, but for the great white sharks off the Outer Banks, the romance, albeit violent, is just getting started.
Experts have long suspected that the sharks congregate off the coast of North Carolina in order to mate, but they ve never had real proof. But that s all about to change.
OCEARCH s Expedition Carolinas is a groundbreaking research expedition set to launch from Wilmington Friday with the goal of finally determining why the giant sharks keep gathering in the area from February through April.
The News & Observer reports that the nonprofit will spend 21 days capturing sexually mature great white sharks between Cape Lookout and the Frying Pan Shoals. Among other things, scientists will run blood tests to identify elevated hormone and sperm levels.