Triple threat emerges as sharks, beach nourishment and murky waters collide

Each winter, thousands of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) migrate to the clear, shallow waters off South Florida, where they are easily spotted from the air—a movement that coincides with seasonal beach nourishment projects. In northern Palm Beach County, beach nourishment—adding sand from nearby or offshore sources, such as Jupiter Inlet—is conducted nearly every year to widen beaches, protect shorelines and provide habitat and recreational space.