The more people look, the more sharks are seen
Increased awareness ID’d as key factor
A rise in shark sightings along Cape Cod — sparking numerous beaches to close for swimming this week — comes as more people have their eyes on the water after the fatal shark attack in Maine last month, shark experts tell the Herald.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity App on Thursday was updating every 15 to 30 minutes with new shark sightings from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
“There are a lot more people with their eyes on the water,” said Tom King, a Scituate-based shark expert. “People are getting a lot more leery of sharks, so they’re paying attention with what’s going on before getting in the water.”
Some of the beaches that closed to swimming on Thursday due to shark sightings included Nauset Beach in Orleans, Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro,
Coast Guard Beach in Truro, and White Crest Beach in Wellfleet.
“There’s always a lot of shark sightings, and now there’s more and more because of so much more awareness,” said James
Sulikowski of Sulikowski Shark and Fish Conservation Lab. “People are just more aware now, lifeguards are honed in on it, and there are aerial surveys.”
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy researchers were on the water Thursday.
“It’s a research day!” the conservancy tweeted. “@GregSkomal tagged one white shark off of Nauset South to start off the morning. Tagging is done by Dr. Greg Skomal of @MassDMF.”
In addition to the research team on the water, there were eyes “in the sky from both spotter pilots and @MassStatePolice air crew,” tweeted MA Sharks. “That increases the chances for higher sightings #’s.”
The sightings come after Julie Dimperio Holowach, a 63-year-old woman from New York City, was killed by a shark in Maine last week — that state’s first confirmed fatal shark attack. She was killed by a great white shark off Harpswell’s Bailey Island.
Nearby in Totman Cove, a father and son this week spotted a seal carcass, Sulikowski said. The marks indicate another predation event from a large shark, he said.
“There’s a lot of that going on right now with more people looking, who might not have paid attention before, but they’re on high alert now,” Sulikowski said. “They’re uneasy and worried, and just paying more attention to the surroundings, which is a good thing that we encourage.”
Since 2012, sharks have attacked people three times off of Wellfleet and Truro.
Two years ago, 26-yearold Arthur Medici was killed while boogie-boarding at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet — the first shark attack fatality in 82 years in Massachusetts.