PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Scientists at a Boston aquarium are encouraging beachgoers to report great white shark sightings this holiday weekend after signs of shark bites were observed on several marine mammals.
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in New England, and the region is already experiencing beach weather. That’s a good reason to keep an eye out for sharks, often called sharks. great whitessaid John Chisholm, associate scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.
The aquarium recently received a report of a minke whale with a great white shark bite in Chatham, Massachusetts, and this is also the time of year that scientists expect to see the sharks heading to coastal waters to hunt seals, the aquarium said Thursday. fair.
“Although we haven’t seen a great white shark yet this season, we know they are here,” Chisholm said. “With beach weather forecast and Memorial Day weekend approaching, this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and be smart about sharks.”
It is advised that swimmers are aware of the presence of sharks in shallow waters and avoid areas where seals or schools of fish are visible, Chisholm said.
Members of the public can report great white shark sightings via Sharktivity of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy application. O increase in shark sightings have been a topic of conversation in New England for the past few years.
Efforts to better track white sharks are underway on the East Coast. The Great White Shark Conservancy said last month that it had deployed its second camera to a great white shark.
The conservancy said camera tags are essential to better understanding the Northwest Atlantic white shark population. The device was attached to the fin of a female great white shark off the coast of South Carolina, the conservancy said. The conservancy worked with Capt. Chip Michalove to fix the “shark’s eye view” camera on the big fish.
“I never thought I would hold the dorsal fin of a great white shark and apply this type of technology,” said Michalove.
