Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, beachgoers were advised to stay where rescue personnel can quickly reach them as an aquarium issued a shark warning on the coast of Massachusetts.
Shark Warnings
The New England Aquarium has begun receiving reports of shark bites on other marine mammals, such as whales or seals, off the state's coast.
It's an indication that great white sharks will soon be making their way back to the offshore waters of New England to hunt, which is why those who could come into contact with them are being warned.
"Although scientists and fishers have not photographed a white shark yet this season, we know that they are here," the New England Aquarium said.
Two white sharks were momentarily spotted during an airborne survey off Monomoy Island in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to aquarium officials, who also reported that hundreds of seals had recently been sighted around local beaches.
Depending on the season, the waters around New England are home to about fifteen different shark species.
An adjunct scientist in the aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, John Chisholm, reported seeing a seal near Plymouth that was showing signs of recent shark bites. A dead minke whale with bite wounds from a shark was discovered close to Chatham, Massachusetts.
He added that it's difficult to forecast this year's white shark activity until it actually occurs. However, people are aware that the sharks come around at their peak in September and October, then gradually decline as winter approaches. This information is based on previous years' observations.
Human Fatality
Humans are rarely killed by shark attacks, which also rarely occur. If the swimmer is in an area where the shark is hunting, they can feel incentivized to attack.
Individuals should take precautions to make sure they stay safe when swimming, including being mindful of the presence of sharks in shallow water and steering clear of locations where seals or fish are visible, as this may indicate that sharks are actively hunting in that region. In order for rescue personnel to reach swimmers in the event of an assault, swimmers are also recommended to remain near the coast.
"Shark and human interactions are not common, but people need to be aware when they go into the water that the sharks are hunting close to shore," Chisholm said.
The aquarium issued the warning in response to the data from the International Shark Attack File indicating an "unnerving" increase in shark attack fatalities in 2023, however, the overall number of reported unprovoked shark bites worldwide is still "extremely low."
The research, which looked at incidents worldwide, showed that 36 unprovoked shark bites occurred in the US, accounting for more than half of all attacks worldwide. Of all the US states, Florida typically experiences the highest number of shark bites.
The Florida Museum of Natural History reports that one person died in California, and three deaths took place in Australia.
Related Article: Scared of Shark Attack? Here's How to Survive It!
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