Great White Shark Sighting: 2 Cape Cod Beaches Closed

CHATHAM, MA — A great white shark was spotted close to shore near in Chatham Thursday afternoon, forcing officials to close Lighthouse Beach and Harding's Beach. The sighting was reported at about 3:15 p.m. Police and the town's harbormaster were at the scene monitoring the shore.

On Wednesday, another shark sighting was reported at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham, forcing swimmers out of the water. And on Monday, a great white shark seen near Nauset Beach in Orleans also forced swimmers out of the water. (Sign up for free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts from Massachusetts Patch sites.)

Government and nonprofit researchers run the "Shaktivity" app, which tracks shark sightings on the Cape. This graphic from the app shows recent sightings:

Cape Cod is a hot spot for sharks, which are drawn in by the dense seal population. Great whites nurse off Montauk, New York, and travel to the Cape every summer to hunt, according to researchers. Great whites are most active off the Cape in late July and early August.

There have been no incidents involving sharks attacking people on the Cape so far this summer. Last week, however, a great white was caught chomping a researcher's underwater GoPro. The footage was incredible:

Shark attacks on humans are extremely rare — the odds are about one in 12 million. Most shark attack victims survive; bites on humans by sharks are normally exploratory.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy provided these tips for avoiding great white encounters:

• "Do not swim near seals
• Swim close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom
• Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf in groups
• Do not swim alone in the ocean at dawn or dusk
• Avoid isolation
• Limit splashing and do not wear shiny jewelry
• Keep your distance (at least 150 feet) from seals, whether they are resting on land or are in the water. It is against the law to disturb them
• Adhere to all signage at beaches where seals are resting
• Keep pets leashed. Inquisitive dogs can startle resting seals, resulting in seal bites or scratches to you or your pet
• Follow instructions of lifeguards
• Become familiar with the beach flag warning system
• Take time to read signage at the beaches"

Related:

Great White Sharks Return To Cape Cod

8 Shark Sightings In Cape Cod Waters

Shark Rescue In Cape Cod Bay

Great White Shark Chomps GoPro Off Cape Cod

Boy Catches Great White Shark In Cape Cod Bay

First-Ever Great White Shark Nursery Found South Of Cape Cod

App Alerts Boaters To Great White Shark On Cape Cod

Photo credit: atlanticwhiteshark.org