MAYA BAY, THAILAND – A new survey in Thailand’s famous Maya Bay recorded up to 118 blacktip reef sharks at once, thrilling marine researchers.
Record shark numbers in iconic Thai bay
The Trang Marine Research Center carried out a shark count in Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh from 31 January to 6 February. On one of the survey days, researchers sighted 118 blacktip reef sharks in the bay, a number described as unprecedented.
“We have never seen such a high concentration before,”
said a delighted researcher.
Drones and cameras reveal peak activity
Using drones and underwater cameras, the scientists documented shark activity without disturbing the animals, flying over the bay 17 times. The early morning proved to be the best time, with an average of 69 sharks counted, compared with about 53 in the evening and around 46 at midday. The record of 118 sharks was reached on the morning of 1 February.
Tiny shark pups confirm nursery status
The most important findings came from baited underwater cameras, which attracted mainly young sharks under one metre in length. The biggest surprise was the presence of very small shark babies, about 30 centimetres long and pale in colour, gathering in the shallow shoreline areas.
“This is the ultimate proof: Maya Bay is a shark nursery,”
said a marine biologist.
Ideal water conditions for young sharks
Researchers also assessed the bay’s environmental conditions and found them almost ideal for rearing juveniles. Average water temperature was 28.4 degrees Celsius, with salinity at 39.9 ppt and oxygen levels at 5.96 mg/l. According to the team, the sharks have suitable conditions and sufficient food, and the ecosystem in Maya Bay appeared to be fully intact.
Top predators signal a healthy reef
Blacktip reef sharks are considered top predators, sitting at the upper end of the marine food chain. A robust shark population is viewed as one of the clearest indicators of a functioning marine ecosystem, as many sharks typically live only where the sea is healthy. After years of decline in the region, the species now seemed to be returning in impressive numbers.
Tourism rebound through eco-focused visits
Maya Bay had long been a major tourist draw before it was closed in 2018 due to environmental damage. Since its reopening, strict rules have been in place, and the return of the sharks suggested these protection measures were paying off, making the bay both scenic and ecologically valuable. For visitors, researchers stressed that the sharks were harmless to humans, as they hunt fish rather than swimmers, raising hopes for new forms of eco-tourism built around shark watching as a highlight.