Great white sharks have made headlines again with one spotted just 30 yards from a Cape Cod beach on Thursday, according to the Sharktivity app. This sighting comes only two weeks after a hammerhead shark was seen far off the Cape Cod coast during a New England Aquarium aerial survey of a marine protected area as reported by the Boston Herald.
Sharks in Massachusetts waters is not uncommon. In fact, more than 15 confirmed shark sightings were reported off the coast of Cape Cod in just one weekend last month, with a majority of the sightings around North Beach Island, Monomoy Island in Chatham, and near Provincetown as stated by NBC Boston. While some sharks remained relatively far from the shoreline (100 yards away), others were spotted only 30 yards offshore.
Shark sightings on the Eastern seaboard have increased, particularly during August - the busiest month for shark activity along the Cape in recent years. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Logbook indicates that last year, August saw the most shark detections at receivers, followed by September in second place according to the Boston Herald.
Sharks are not the only marine life that could be mistaken for white sharks. As the Boston Herald reports, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy recently posted a video of the Ocean Sunfish (Mola molas), commonly seen during this time of the year, which can be identified by their large dorsal fin flopping out of the water.
In addition to hammerhead and white sharks, the aerial survey carried out by the New England Aquarium revealed a flourishing biodiversity hotspot in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, where various marine species, including fin whales, pilot whales, dolphins, and manta rays, were spotted.
Warm water temperatures during the summer months are likely contributing to the increased shark presence in Northeast waters. As per MBC Boston, sightings are expected to rise as the waters continue to warm, adding to the growing list of marine species found in Massachusetts waters as mentioned by NBC Boston.
