Videos: 1st Great White Shark of Beach Season Spotted Off the Massachusetts Coast
It wasn't necessarily a pretty sight when the season's first Great White Shark of the summer was spotted off the coast of Provincetown on Cape Cod. According to the Cape Cod Times, the Provincetown-based Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch tour saw the shark feeding on a seal. Personally, I refused to watch the videos due to their graphic nature, but did post them below. The Cape Cod Times says the tour boat literally came upon the scene when it was around 100 feet away.
The entire boat was in complete awe at what we were seeing. It’s sure to leave a lasting impression on passengers and crew alike. We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time to capture such an incredible event.
As we New Englanders know, the warmer Atlantic waters off the coast of the Cape are the summer home for great whites, so it looks like the season is officially underway. This sighting now means it's time to be vigilant when venturing into the water.
A scientist with the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life told the Cape Cod Times this first sighting is actually right on time for what they see each year, as sharks spend the summer and the beginning of fall hunting seals along our Massachusetts shoreline. And usually that shoreline is Cape Cod, and more notably the eastern water of Provincetown.
I'm sure you're aware of the Sharktivity app, as most of us are who love to hit our Southern New England beaches and stay in the know. In case you're not, click here.
WARNING: Videos below could be graphic for some.