Massachusetts

Shark Spotted Near Swimmers Off Cape Cod Beach

It's still very early in the summer, but already there have been numerous great white shark sightings off Cape Cod.

The most recent sighting was around 12:30 p.m. Friday when a shark was seen near swimmers at Provincetown's Race Point Beach. Researchers also spotted a great white off Nauset Beach in Orleans earlier Friday morning.

Three more great white sharks were spotted on Tuesday - two off Provincetown and one off Chatham.

Here's a look at some other great white shark sightings so far this season

  • June 5 - A shark was detected by a shark buoy receiver of Chatham.
  • June 9 - A shark was detected by a shark buoy receiver between Eastham and Wellfleet.
  • June 15 - Two sharks were detected by shark buoy receivers in Chatham.
  • June 16 - A shark was spotted eating a seal off Provincetown.
  • June 22 - Lifeguards in Eastham ordered swimmers out of the water for about an hour after blood was spotted in the water. No shark was spotted, however.

That's a total of 10 sharks already this season.

More Great White Sharks Spotted Off Cape Cod

The only thing turning heads in Duxbury Friday evening was a horse in the water. So far, no sharks have appeared yet.

"I don't really worry about stuff like that," said beachgoer Shakim Lewis.

The sharks spotted off Cape Cod were just about 100 yards from the beach, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

"Still scares the living daylights out of me," said Pete MacKinnon, who was enjoying Duxbury Beach Friday. Sharks have been seen there in the past.

"Of course I'm nervous, but they're a fact of life here," said Duxbury resident Kerry McNulty.

Typically, mid-June is when most great white sharks arrive in the New England area. Last year was a particularly active year for great whites off Cape Cod, with dozens of sightings and several beach closures due to sharks being spotted swimming close to shore.

Department of Marine Fisheries Scientist Greg Skomal was using his GoPro to track white sharks off Cape Cod when the shark approached his camera.
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