Massachusetts Shark Update: Cape Cod Named a “Hotspot”
Sharks on the east coast seem to really be enjoying the summer thus far. Your current update for Massachusetts includes a shark sighting in Orleans, and Cape Cod being named a hotspot for great whites.
Last week, the Boston Herald reported that a great white shark was spotted “circling” within a 50-100 foot range from the shoreline in Orleans. Specifically, the sighting was reported by people at Nauset Beach, which is a very popular destination. The Boston Herald also stated that August is typically the busiest shark month in the area.
Cape Cod = Shark “hotspot”
When we hear of sharks in Massachusetts (or all of New England), they are often spotted along Cape Cod shores. In fact, Life Science recently states that Cape Cod has officially become a shark hotspot in the country. This is largely due to the number of seals to feed on. “Over the course of the past 10 years, white sharks have come back to Cape Cod to feed on the recovering seal population,” says marine researcher, Megan Winton.
Life Science also points out Marine Ecology Progress Series. Here, they detail, “between 2015 to 2018, an estimated 800 great white sharks visited the area.”
Furthermore, the report details that researchers took 137 trips to Cape Cod. They saw 393 sharks by using spotter pilots and video technology.” Cape Cod joins established hotspots in South Africa, central California, Mexico’s Guadalupe Island and Australia’s Neptune Islands. The sharks are most concentrated by Massachusetts during June through October—the same time of year when more than three million vacationers regularly flock to the cape,” Scientific American explained.
You will see flags and shark warnings posted if activity is spotted. In addition, life guards will now close the waters if a shark has officially been spotted. With Cape Cod being named a hotspot for 2023, it’s also important to look out for seals.