ORLEANS, Mass. — It’s been a busy week for shark sightings on Cape Cod, with many beaches closing for several hours to swimmers.
On Friday, by 3:30 in the afternoon there were sightings at Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro, and Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet.
On Thursday, sharks were reported at at least 8 beaches on the Outer Cape. Some of which included:
- Cahoon Hollow and White Crest Beaches in Wellfleet
- Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet
- Lecount Hollow Beach and Maguire Landing in Wellfleet
- Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro
- Coast Guard Beach in Truro
- Nauset Beach in Orleans
According to Anthony Pike, Orleans Beach Safety Director, while there has been an increase in shark sightings this week, it’s not out of the ordinary for this time of year.
“Orleans assumes that there are animals nearby, dangerous marine animals, so we limit people up to the waist in the water as a general rule,” he said Friday. “Because we just naturally assume that there is a palpable threat here 24/7.”
Pike added that aircraft have been assisting beach staff in spotting sharks.
“We do have a number of aircraft that use the airspace above the beach, and as a courtesy, they will notify us when there’s an animal close to the swimming area.”
New York resident Jim Matessino told Boston 25 News that he was on Nauset Beach on Thursday when two shark sightings prompted 1-hour beach closures.
“It happened a couple of times and we were here all week, you know, it was the first day that they made people do that.”
Yesterday, at least 8 beaches on the Outer Cape were temporarily closed to swimmers due to shark sightings🦈 At least 2 have been closed today for the same reason. At 6pm on @boston25: Orleans beach safety director has a message for swimmers ahead of another beautiful weekend pic.twitter.com/kWuFB76KkZ
— Kirsten Glavin (@kirstenglavin) August 7, 2020
Beach staff all across the Outer Cape have been in close contact with each other to make sure swimmers stay safe, according to Pike.
Heading into a sunny, hot weekend, beach officials recommend swimmers avoid going into the water around dusk or dawn, which are known feeding times for sharks.
They also advise that swimmers do not go into the water past their waists and that they avoid seals.
“I think the important thing is just go in up to your waist. Any deeper than that and you’re really running the risk of having an unfortunate interaction,” said Pike.
According to Dr. Gregory Skomal, a shark biologist at the Mass Department of Marine Fisheries, sharks are feeding closer than people may think.
“These sharks are feeding in shallow water, in close proximity to their prey which is the seals,” he said Friday afternoon. “So be mindful, stay shallow, don’t swim in close proximity to seals, and know that these sharks are there.”
Skomal also said that swimmers should avoid water that’s 6 feet deep or more, even if that happens to be close to the shoreline.
“People tend to think that distance from shore matters. It really has more to do with water temp.”
Cox Media Group
