A shark expert said that people should be cautious when swimming at beaches around Cape Cod after sharks were spotted in the area.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy said on July 1 that researchers spotted at least 11 sharks swimming near Cape Cod, noting that it had tagged two of them. A third shark was tagged on Tuesday.
Video footage shared by the organization showed one of the sharks swimming near a boat.
Also on Tuesday, six great white sharks were spotted off Provincetown, Truro, and Orleans, the group said. Another one was about 40 yards off Marconi Beach in Wellfleet.
After the sightings, a shark expert warned people to be careful.
“I ask people, if you’re going to be in an area where these sharks are hunting, and that’s particularly along the Outer Cape, parts of Cape Cod Bay as well, this a natural hunting ground for this species,” Massachusetts marine biologist Greg Skomal told CBS.
“Take into consideration that you are a land animal going in the ocean, and be vigilant.”
“They are following the food,” Skomal added, referring to seals in the area. “And the food, unfortunately, is very close to shore, and we are very close to shore.”
Cape Cod rescue officials have recently installed emergency boxes labeled “Severe Bleeding and First Aid.”
They have a tourniquet and other items used to treat shark attack victims.
“If you access this box you have a pretty good cache of what you may need in a major emergency,” Orleans Fire Chief Anthony Pike said.
Shark attacks are rarely fatal but often leave victims with severe injuries, sometimes resulting in the loss of one or more limbs.
Increased attention is paid to sharks in the summer months because that’s when crowds go the beach.
11 great white sharks spotted off Cape Cod ahead of July 4th holiday https://t.co/z93S8OADss pic.twitter.com/WyLyg6I32x
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 3, 2019
Another shark expert said that shark-infested waters around Cape Cod is now normal.
“It’s the new normal now,” Tom King, a shark expert from Scituate, told the Boston Herald. “For generations, everyone’s gone down to the beach and frolicked around in the salt water, going in and out of the water without any concerns. There were no sharks here. Now, we have company.”
Purple flags are up at beaches with shark-infested waters, serving as warnings.
“We want to remind people that as you’re interacting in this wild area, there are a variety of animals out there, including sharks,” said Ryan Wright, acting chief ranger for Cape Cod National Seashore. “There’s a certain amount of risk you’re assuming as you go into the ocean.”
People should swim in groups and limit splashing, he said. They should also not go into water that doesn’t have good visibility.
The slew of sightings came about a year after a swimmer was killed by a shark. Three people have been bitten off Wellfleet and Truro in recent years.
The 26-year-old man from Revere who died from a shark attack Saturday in the waters off Wellfleet has been identified as Arthur Medici. https://t.co/SF4k3Grrff pic.twitter.com/QBOvTw0Zxr
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) September 16, 2018
Arthur Medici, 26, was killed in September while boogie boarding off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet.
“I just saw him go down under the water and he popped back up really quick and I saw a lot of blood in the water already and he was screaming,” Isaac Rocha, Medici’s friend, told CBS.
“I dragged him back to shore about 35 to 40 yards. When I got to shore I was exhausted. I couldn’t bring him more up the shore. I fell down and I was still carrying him. I got a boogie board strap and I tied it around his thigh to try to stop the bleeding.”
Medici was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
