CHATHAM – Shark season has begun in Massachusetts. So says the New England Aquarium great whites recently took a bite out of several marine mammals.
The aquarium “urges the public to be aware of their surroundings” when heading to the ocean.
“With beach weather in the forecast and Memorial Day Weekend approaching, this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and shark smart,” said Massachusetts shark biologist John Chisholm.
Chisholm spotted two white sharks on Wednesday. He shared a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, of seals along the beach of Monomoy Island near Chatham.
“Today there is plenty of shark food on Monomoy,” Chisholm said. “These large shipments usually start to disperse at this time of year, which is also when shark numbers start to increase.”
Shark bite activity off Massachusetts
Chisholm photographed a seal in Plymouth in late April with a fresh white shark bite. And last week, a fishing charter company reported seeing a dead minke whale with a shark off Chatham.
Johannes Chisholm
The public is encouraged to report shark sightings through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.
Great safety for white sharks
Last year, a first study of its kind discovered that Cape Cod is one of the world’s largest white shark hotspots. Researchers say the shark population there peaks around late summer and early fall, when ocean temperatures are warmest.
Chisholm says beachgoers should be aware of the presence of sharks in shallow waters and stay away from seals or schools of fish if they are spotted. He also advises swimmers and surfers to stay close to shore so emergency services can reach them if necessary.
