Hundreds of Sharks in Cape Cod Have Experts Worried for Swimmers

Although once a scarce species to catch sight of off of Cape Cod and the surrounding areas, in recent years, Cape Cod has been swimming with an abundance of sharks. It’s not just any species of shark visiting Cape Cod, however. Instead, these sightings include hundreds of great white sharks. This is prompting local agencies to promote awareness about what may be lurking just mere feet on the sandy shores.

While there is a notable concern for swimmers, many marine organizations, such as the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, strive to provide educational information and dispel misconceptions about the sea’s apex predator. This includes helping keep locals and those visiting up-to-date on recent sightings. With as many as 800 great white sharks visiting Cape Cod in the span of just three years (from 2015 to 2018), understanding great whites and why they are drawn to Cape Cod is more important than ever. This helps keep humans, as well as the sharks themselves, safe.

Species Profile: Great White Sharks

The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is also known by many other names, such as the white shark, white pointer, or great white. It is the only living species in its genus, and it is one of the largest species of sharks (although not the largest). Adults of this species can easily reach lengths of around 20 feet and can weigh as much as 2,400 pounds.

Great white sharks are found in almost all the oceans of the world, ranging from coastal waters to open oceans. They are apex predators, with adult great white sharks having been recorded even hunting whales.

Why Are Great White Sharks Attracted to Cape Cod?

With an entire ocean to explore, many people are curious about what exactly attracts great white sharks to Cape Cod. As it turns out, it all comes down to food.

Gray seals (Halichoerus gypus) are a species of seal native to the Northern Atlantic region. This includes Cape Cod. In the past, gray seals, the largest seal in this region, had a rather average population. This population was kept in check both by local predators as well as competition over natural resources such as food. This is especially true given the human fishing industry and its significance in the Cape Cod region. However, in recent years, there has been a notable increase in the population of gray seals in Cape Cod. An estimated 425,000 gray seals travel along the Atlantic Coast, with a notable population living in the New England region.

While it may seem like the increase in gray seals and great white shark sightings aren’t related, gray seals are actually one of the primary reasons so many great white sharks appear on the coast of Cape Cod. This species of seal is a preferred meal of the great white shark, which can draw in hundreds of hungry sharks on migration to the abundant colonies speckling the beaches of Cape Cod.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Doug Lemke/Shutterstock.com