With Recent Seal Killing, It's Clear: Great White Sharks Are Back In Cape Cod Waters

CAPE COD, MA — As beach season approaches, great white sharks are once again patrolling waters off Cape Cod.

In fact, a dead seal with clear signs of a fatal attack by a great white was recently found nearby, on Martha's Vineyard, according to the New England Aquarium.

But experts stress that awareness – not panic – is the key for swimmers and surfers heading into the waves.

Massachusetts officials and shark researchers at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy say the annual return of great whites is due largely to the region’s booming seal population, which serves as the sharks’ primary food source.

Cape Cod has become one of the country’s most active white shark habitats over the past two decades.

Officials are urging beachgoers to stay “shark smart” by avoiding areas where seals are gathered, staying close to shore, swimming in groups and avoiding the water at dawn or dusk, when sharks are typically most active.

Experts also recommend paying attention to local shark alerts and the conservancy’s Sharktivity app, which tracks recent sightings and detections.

Massachusetts shark biologist Greg Skomal said recent research suggests shark activity around Cape Cod may now peak later in the season, with September and October becoming busier months than midsummer.

Researchers say changing seal patterns and ocean conditions may be influencing shark movements.

See Also:

Great White Shark Found Dead On Cape Cod Beach