Rizzo: Summer on Cape Cod: Great White Sharks are Back

Sightings usually start in June or July, but this summer is already looking a little different with the first confirmed sighting on May 29 near Nantucket.

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With the heat of summer finally here, many Canadians flock to their favorite beach destinations, like Cape Cod, to enjoy the wonderful salty air. But Cape Cod has sharks.

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For generations, Cape Cod, Massachusetts has conjured up images of idyllic summer fun. A peaceful place. Here, throwing horseshoes on dune beaches, fishing from jetties, digging for clams and watching sailboats pass by are part of the daily routine. Join biking families at your favorite lobster shack and you have the perfect recipe for a good time.

However, Cape Cod is not always the docile and pleasant lamb that one imagines. The weather during the off-season can be harsh and unpredictable, and depending on how far above the hook one lives, isolation can be a real problem. The locals, however, are tough and masters of both braving the elements and beating the monotony. Windbreakers are strictly and it turns out to be a natural outfit for outdoor enthusiasts who visit this wonderland every year. A wonderland indeed. Where else could one escape to a remote barrier island steeped in history, visit a seabird refuge, and catch a glimpse of a humpback whale in the distance? With the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution located in its southwest corner, 900 kilometers of coastline, and more than a dozen lighthouses to explore, Cape Cod is nothing short of a maritime sanctuary.

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So much so that a new kind of tourist has come to town: the great white shark.

There have always been occasional sightings of sharks (jaws, it was filmed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, after all), but it had been years since the predator had regularly appeared on these shores. Since their return in 2009, great whites have faithfully reappeared each year to feed on gray seals. Sightings usually start in June or July and last until October, but this summer already looks a little different with the first sighting, confirmed by the Atlantic White Shark Conservation, May 29 near Nantucket. These sharks, it seems, can’t get back fast enough.

The recent increase in great white sharks may be explained in part by a seal nursery discovered in the waters off Montauk, New York, just south of Cape Cod. The question on everyone’s mind is: Where do seals come from? According to Greg SkomaMassachusetts marine biologist and recognized authority on Atlantic white sharks, conservation efforts were made possible by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (enacted in 1972) helped restore seal populations and when the seals returned, so did the sharks.

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For many years, there has been a battle over shark tagging between state and non-profit researchers. The first alleged that the activities of non-profit research groups compromised the studies of their researchers; the latter stated that they were denied permits. Although, in theory, the two groups do not conduct research in the same waters due to permitting laws (state investigators operate in state waters while nonprofit groups operate in federal waters), egos, interference, and hampering research still seem to be a bit of a problem.

Everyone involved will need to settle their differences soon and help keep the beaches safe, as great white sharks are definitely re-establishing themselves in their old home, where they can gorge on their favorite food. Additionally, Sable Island, NS is home to the largest gray seal breeding colony in the world and that’s not too far from Cape Cod.

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Although sightings are frequent, actual shark attacks are rare. Atlantic White Shark Conservancy has developed the Sharktivity App: A tracking app that notifies beachgoers of confirmed and unconfirmed shark sightings. Also, the depth of the water is crucial in determining swimming safety. The shallower the water, the safer it is to swim towards a shark. Researchers are currently studying eating patterns. Once these patterns are established, it will be easier to predict the safest times to get in the water.

Until then, try not to go too deep.

Fatima Rizzo is a Montreal-based writer and ocean lover.

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