Philippe Marcelo, Associated Press, Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 4:00 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) – Researchers of a great white shark on Cape Cod remind visitors that warmer weather signals not only the beginning of a busy tourist season, but also the arrival of famous predators in the region.
July usually occurs when great whites appear severely as the waters of the nose warm, with peak peaks from August to October, said Megan Winton, a scientist with the Atlantic White Shark Conservation Organization, during a news conference in the organization’s offices in Chatham on Wednesday.
“Just know that the great sharks are here,” she said. “They are a constant presence from June to autumn.”
A major white watch called for the temporary closure of Head of the Meadow beach in Truro on Tuesday.
Greg Scomal, a U.S. marine biologist who has studied the great whites in the region for decades, said the animals are still concentrated on the promontory side facing the Atlantic Ocean, where they feed on a thriving seal population.
He advised beachgoers to be most vigilant when swimming outside beaches, where the coastline quickly descends into deeper waters.
“Sharks will get closer to shore when they have water depth,” Skomal said.
Since 2009, researchers have marked more than 280 large whites from the nose, with nearly 230 of those labels still active and sending back data on shark movements, scientists say.
Scomal and Winton have spent years studying shark migration and hunting behavior. They say ongoing research has helped increase beach safety by giving local staff and beachgoers a better understanding of where large whites appear and what time of day they are most active.
Scomal says there has been a significant change in beachgoers’ behavior since the region saw two shark attacks on humans – one fatal – in 2018.
Many are increasingly staying closer to shore when swimming, while others do not enter the water at all, he said.
“It’s a success story in shark and seal conservation,” Winton said. “At the same time, it’s an important place for people to recreate, so it’s important to find ways to live together.”
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