Large Sharks Observed In Waters Off Chatham and Monomoy Island, Cape Cod

September 4, 2009

Shark

It looks like Chatham, MA is becoming the hot-spot for sharks in New England waters!

An article by K.C. Myers in the Cape Cod Times (September 4, 2009) reports that five large sharks, possibly great whites, have been spotted cruising in the waters just offshore the Monomy Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge, home to an ever growing population of seals, now estimated to be in the thousands, has been in the news during the past few years due to several shark attacks on seals and great white shark sightings in the area.

The reports coming out of Chatham are very similar to those that are often reported around the Farallon Islands in California and other areas of the world where you find large seal populations. If you have a large seal population, then you can expect to find large sharks in the same area. Seals are one of the more highly prized prey items for great white sharks.

The article by K.C. Myers reports that Town of Chatham and Massachusetts state officials have issued warnings to the public urging people to avoid swimming where seals congregate.

A few weeks ago two kayakers reported witnessing a shark attack on a seal as they kayaked in waters not too far off the shoreline of Lighthouse Beach in Chatham. According to Martin Finucane’s article on Boston.com they may have witnessed a great white attack on a gray seal. Read the article for more information about the sighting.