As you head to the beach before summer wraps up, make sure you stay “shark smart.”
Great white sharks were being spotted close to the Cape Cod shore on Tuesday, as beaches were shut down to swimming. This comes after a white shark was recently seen chomping on a seal near the shoreline.
“White shark spotted 30 yards off Nauset South OSV around Trail 3,” a shark alert reads on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.
Then, another shark alert was reported off Orleans Tuesday morning.
“White shark spotted 75 yards off Nauset South OSV near Trail 2 headed north,” the shark alert states.
Shark alerts are issued when a white shark sighting is confirmed close to a public beach. A Sharktivity notification goes out with each alert.
The app sightings are fed by researchers, safety officials, and users who upload photos for confirmation.
Just over the weekend, a beachgoer saw a great white shark chasing a seal close to shore.
“This video was taken yesterday (8/10/24) of a white shark preying on a seal around 4:30 at Cut 5 on Nauset outer,” the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy posted.
“Remember to follow the shark smart safety tips as white sharks can hunt for prey in shallow water and input your sightings on the Sharktivity app,” the Conservancy added.
As white sharks look for seals along the Cape coast, the apex predators also feast on fish.
Many fishermen have been reporting sharks taking striped bass from their fishing lines. One recent incident was reported off of Eastham.
“White shark taking a striped bass in Cape Cod Bay,” posted shark researcher John Chisholm. “I’ve been documenting incidents like this for years. If you have an encounter please report it. Also, take heed when retrieving and releasing fish. Don’t linger hanging over the side of the boat.”
In addition to white sharks, it has also been a very busy year for basking sharks across the region. Chisholm recently received a report of a dead basking shark in Blue Hill, Maine — not far from Acadia.
“The basking shark was a 24′ mature male,” Chisholm posted. “There was no obvious signs of trauma but I learned the shark was video’d in shallow water the night before off Blue Hill. There was also a basking shark seen off Swans Island earlier on Tuesday and from footage sent to me, I was able to determine it was indeed the same shark.
“If you follow my social media you know this as been a big year for basking sharks in the region,” he added. “It wouldn’t surprise me if another one washes up. If you do find a basking shark please report it.”