Study Finds Drugs in Sharks’ Blood in Bahamas Waters

If you’re heading to the Bahamas for spring break, you might want to think twice before jumping in the water, research shows sharks in the area have tested positive for cocaine.

Sharks Found in Bahamian Waters

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Scuba diving in the Bahamas is renowned worldwide for its crystal-clear waters, often with visibility exceeding 100 feet, warm temperatures, and remarkable marine biodiversity. The region is especially celebrated for thrilling shark encounters, fascinating shipwrecks, mysterious blue holes, and vibrant coral reefs, making it an ideal destination for divers of every skill level.

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If you’re planning to go scuba diving in the Bahamas over spring break, keep in mind that the region is a famous “shark sanctuary,” home to more than 40 species. The five most commonly seen sharks are Caribbean reef, tiger, nurse, great hammerhead, and oceanic whitetip sharks. Other species you might encounter include bull, lemon, silky, blacktip, and, more recently, great white sharks.

Let’s focus on the three sharks most likely to attack humans: great white, tiger, and bull sharks. These species are already naturally aggressive, but their behavior could become even more unpredictable if cocaine is present in their systems.

Sharks Are Dangerous Enough, But High on Cocaine?

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Researchers studying sharks in the Bahamas have found traces of caffeine, painkillers, and even cocaine in their systems, according to WOOD-TV. Out of 85 sharks tested, 28 showed evidence of anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat pain, and one shark appeared to have recently ingested a significant amount of cocaine.

Photo by Ryan Geller on Unsplash

Biologists suggest that ocean currents may be carrying traces of these drugs from sewage or other sources on the island, or that sharks could be ingesting them from objects in the water they’ve bitten out of curiosity.