Great White Sharks Return To Cape Cod

CHATHAM, MA — Cue the "Jaws" theme. Summer is here — and so are scores of great white sharks that descend on Cape Cod every summer to feed on seals. There have been multiple great white sightings off Cape Cod in recent days, especially near Chatham. A seal washed up dead on Nauset Beach Thursday night with a fatal great white shark bite visible toward the tail.

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Chatham is a hotspot for sharks, which are drawn in by the dense seal population. Experts predict this will be another busy summer for great white shark sightings, especially after the discovery last year of the first great white nursey off Montauk, New York.

Last year was another busy one for great white shark sightings on the Cape. On Sunday, August 13, Lighthouse Beach in Chatham was closed after a great white shark was seen eating a seal nearby. On Friday, Aug. 5, Truro beaches were closed as six great whites fed on a dead minke whale nearby. In July, boaters credited an app for alerting them to a great white swimming alongside their boat — and a 6-year-old boy actually hooked a great white in Cape Cod Bay (The shark was cut free.).

Shark attacks on humans are extremely rare — the odds are about one in 12 million. Most shark attack victims survive; bites on humans by sharks are normally exploratory.

The nonprofit Atlantic White Shark Conservancy operates a shark map app called "Sharktivity" that tracks sightings.

The conservancy provided these tips for avoiding great white encounters:

• "Do not swim near seals
• Swim close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom
• Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf in groups
• Do not swim alone in the ocean at dawn or dusk
• Avoid isolation
• Limit splashing and do not wear shiny jewelry
• Keep your distance (at least 150 feet) from seals, whether they are resting on land or are in the water. It is against the law to disturb them
• Adhere to all signage at beaches where seals are resting
• Keep pets leashed. Inquisitive dogs can startle resting seals, resulting in seal bites or scratches to you or your pet
• Follow instructions of lifeguards
• Become familiar with the beach flag warning system
• Take time to read signage at the beaches"

Related:

• Boy Catches Great White Shark In Cape Cod Bay
• First-Ever Great White Shark Nursery Found South Of Cape Cod
• App Alerts Boaters To Great White Shark On Cape Cod

Photo: A great white shark off the coast of Chatham spotted June 29, 2017. (Credit: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy)