First Sighting of great white shark season confirmed in Massachusetts
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Memorial Day is finally here for the people living in Massachusetts, New England. Most recently a great white shark was spotted for the very first time this season.
Beachgoers were able to see a great white shark as they kept a close eye on the water to celebrate the unofficial start of summer.
Here is everything you need to know.
Great white shark spotted in Massachusetts
Cape Cod shark researchers confirmed the very first case of great white shark sighting this weekend on Sunday.
Initially, a video of the sighting was posted on social media platforms.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy further confirmed on Monday that a great white shark was sighted at the Nantucket Current.
@kaiowenfishing Giant tiger shark tries to eat turtle! #nature #fyp #viral #bahamas #worldwide ♬ original sound – kaiowenfishingAdvertisement
While the onlookers were quite delighted to see the white shark they were not prepared to see it chomp down a seal.
In the clip, we can hear people marvel at the sight of the white shark. However further into the video, we see the water turning from blue to red as the shark keeps taking a bite of the seal close to the shore.
Great white shark sighting confirmed by shark expert
Massachusetts-based shark expert John Chisholm took to a Twitter account named MA Sharks to share the news. He wrote, ‘We’ve had a couple of other unconfirmed sightings, but this is the first one where we actually got to see the shark.’
Chisholm had been tracking shark sightings for quite many years and is associated with the New England Aquarium.
He continued, ‘We know definitively that it’s a white shark.’
Chisholm currently works as a local citizen science coordinator. He is responsible for validating whether the shark sightings reported by the public are true or not via the AWSC’s Sharktivity app.
A great white shark was filmed eating a seal just off the beach from the Great Point Lighthouse on #Nantucket on Sunday. @A_WhiteShark @SharkWeek @OCEARCH
— Nantucket Current (@ACKCurrent) May 30, 2022
🎥: Will Little pic.twitter.com/RjsS54Zm9M
The expert added, ‘We know definitively that it’s a white shark. Great whites coming to the Cape ahead of the official start of summer is not early.’
Regardless, the officials have urged the people to play safely while they visit the beach to catch rays. They have further asked the public to avoid being near areas with seals and stay closer to the shore.
White shark numbers were decreasing until 1997 when the federal laws assigned them to be among the protected species. In 2005, Massachusetts state laws also followed in footsteps, as reported by the National Park Service.
White shark season mostly kicks off in late summer or early fall. You might be able to catch a glimpse of the shark during the season however do not perform any activity to provoke it.
