First great white shark sighting of the season reported off Cape Cod
PROVINCETOWN - Shark season is just getting started off the coast of Massachusetts.
Shark experts reported the "first confirmed sighting of the season" over the weekend. Video taken by Todd Ferrer-Bedard on Instagram shows a shark hunting a seal, as seen from a whale watch out of Provincetown.
"As we get closer to the summer and fall seasons, it is important to note that white sharks are making their way back to the Cape Cod coastline," the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy tweeted.
The shark was 12 feet long, according to the New England Aquarium. Scientists there are urging the public to report any sightings to the Sharktivity app and be aware of their surroundings as Memorial Day Weekend approaches.
"Though white shark bites on humans are rare, the sighting serves as a reminder to beachgoers and boaters to be mindful of the presence of these ocean animals," said aquarium scientist John Chisholm in a statement. "It's important to be aware of sharks' presence in shallow waters, to avoid areas where seals are present or schools of fish are visible, and to stay close to shore where rescuers can reach you if needed."
Large white sharks are a "constant presence from June to the fall," the Conservancy told WBZ-TV last year. Since 2009, researchers have tagged more than 280 great whites off the Cape.
According to the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, seasonal shark sightings have increased in recent years as the seal population grows.
