Shark Sighting Near Cape Cod Beach

PROVINCETOWN, MA — A shark was spotted off Race Point Beach in Provincetown Monday morning, forcing swimmers out of the water. A lifeguard saw the shark about 50 yards from shore, according to the Cape Cod National Park Service. Cape Cod shark sightings typically peak every year in late July and early August. Also on Monday, a great white shark was tagged off Chatham.

(Sign up for free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts from Barnstable Patch, Falmouth Patch and Martha's Vineyard Patch.)

Cape Cod is a hotspot for sharks, which are drawn in by the dense seal population. Great whites nurse off Montauk, New York, and travel to the Cape every summer to hunt, according to researchers.

Government and nonprofit researchers run the "Shaktivity" app, which tracks shark sightings on the Cape. This map shows Monday morning's sighting:

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 Atlantic White Shark 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 credit: atlanticwhiteshark.org