Sharks off Monomoy..5 white ones

[Karl F]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pb...NEWS/909040311


Scott posted link in harbor seal thread, and Fred posted it in scuppers too..
guess we is all happy to see Jaws

[JohnR]

[afterhours]

can't open it karl...

[Karl F]

By K.C. MYERS
kcmyers@capecodonline.com
September 04, 2009CHATHAM — The town is on high alert after five large sharks, possibly great whites, were spotted trolling the waters close to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge yesterday afternoon.

Town and state officials have issued warnings to the public urging people to avoid swimming where seals congregate. Town officials are expected to decide today whether further measures, such as beach closures, are necessary, said Lisa Capone, press secretary for the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

The large sharks were spotted just off shore at Monomoy Island, a National Wildlife Refuge where thousands of seals sun and swim daily.

The sharks were seen in the afternoon more than one mile from Lighthouse Beach, the nearest swimming beach, Capone said.

Chatham Harbor Master Stuart Smith gave a slightly different location for the shark sighting. He said the animals were just off Monomoy's point, where Nantucket Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean.

State Division of Marine Fisheries shark expert Greg Skomal flew over the area yesterday afternoon and confirmed large sharks were in the water. But he needs to go back by boat today to identify the species, Capone said.

"I think they are leaning toward a white type of shark," Smith said of Division of Marine Fisheries officials.

Though the presence of large predatory sharks doesn't come as much of a surprise to anyone familiar with the area, town officials were concerned enough to hold a meeting and write up a "Notice of Public Interest," Smith said. The advisory warns people that the ocean is the domain of sharks and seals, and swimmers need to be aware, Smith said.

"Chatham is now a year-round home to a few thousand seals," the town's notice states. "Please note, however, that the ocean waters near Chatham are also home to large sharks, and seals are a staple part of their diet.

"Therefore, it is not surprising that there have been recent confirmed reports of sharks feeding on seals in the vicinity of Chatham's ocean beaches," the advisory continues. "As recently as Friday, August 28, 2009, the carcass of a seal was confirmed to have been partially eaten by a large shark."

It is rare for a shark to attack a human. The last documented human death in a Massachusetts shark attack was in 1936, Tony LaCasse, spokesman for the New England Aquarium, told the Cape Cod Times last year.

But the town advised swimmers to stay away from areas with seals to avoid trouble with sharks and the marine mammals.

Smith said seals are dirty and disease ridden. They outweigh most humans and they bite, he added. "This has been going on for years now," he said.

Just two weeks ago, a pair of kayakers reported seeing a shark attack a seal near Monomoy. Last year, a seal cruise captain watched a seal meet the same fate.

While sharks certainly have been spotted, beach closings even under these circumstances are rare, Smith said.

Seals began gathering at Monomoy about 12 years ago, Smith said. Their growing presence has caused some fishermen to worry that the seals' fish appetite is taking a bite out of their livelihood. Others worry that the seals are attracting more sharks.

"My greatest concern is the seal population," said David McCourbrey, a recreational fisherman and Marstons Mills resident. "It's a protected species and it's great to protect a species, but I'm not sure if we always think of all the repercussions. ... I just think this will be more and more of a problem, and someday something is going to happen."

[Karl F]

pic from article

[afterhours]

thanks karl! ...like we did'nt see this coming...wait 'till a swimmer or fisherman is lunch.

[JohnR]

Link worked Karl - thanks

[blondterror]

I hope the sharks hang there for a few weeks and make a big dent in the seal population

[zimmy]

what kinda gear do I need to land one of them from shore? 1209 and abu 7000 do it?

[BobT]

Come on sharks !!!! Eat sharks eat !!!!!!

[Rockport24]

I hope this doesn't happen to me this weekend

[MAKAI]

It's a shame the GW only needs about a seal a week
pray for lepto

[Raven]

this is the full moon that's called the "fruit moon"

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Remember boat sharks don't count And it's ok to go skishing over there because it states sharks don't usually attack people and the last death was in 1936 so dress like a seal and fish

[quick decision]

isnt this what we have been waiting for

[GattaFish]

This will be an increasing trend because of the seal population... I just hope some fisherman does not end up being a midnight snack,,,

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by GattaFish

This will be an increasing trend because of the seal population... I just hope some fisherman does not end up being a midnight snack,,,

My thought is as long as you aren't skishing, you shouldn't have a problem. I believe Whites "typically" don't occupy water less than 50' deep.

[PRBuzz]

New report (2nd hand anyone else confirm?) from Chatham:

"Big news!! Just spoke with one of my neighbors and she told us the town has closed one of the nearby beaches (near Lighthouse Beach) because 4 great white sharks were spotted feeding on the local seals just offshore."

Just thought all, some, or most likely NONE of you would want a moment of silence for said dead seals if true! Others (most) might want to raise a beer in thanks for GWs, finally they got hungry.

[Karl F]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pb...WS11/909059985

[Karl F]

http://www.spike.com/video/when-sharks-attack/3235120

[gone fishin]

Wow -- was that a Salty's big D ??? Sherrif ??

[Karl F]

Don, that may, or may not be, a Salty's Rico!


anyway, further developements..

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pb...NEWS/909060328


My son and his friends were handed a Flyer by the Beach Patrol yesterday afternoon, and told to get OUT of the water.....
everybody on Nauset got one.

[Joe]

If a shark ate a person, I don't think it would make a difference in how sharks/seals are managed. They'd just say not to swim. It would further damage the local economy, but I don't think that would be taken to into consideration either.

[Raven]

is that why they play jaws every damn day

and the mentality becomes..............

I'm not going swimming -the ocean is full of sharks!

[bigken774]

didn't see any sharks this morning in ditch just a big sunfish

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Raven

is that why they play jaws every damn day
and the mentality becomes..............
I'm not going swimming -the ocean is full of sharks!

Most people won't go in the water if there are sharks nearby. Prescribing to that mentality is not without merit. If there are sharks around, and I know it, and go into the water and get attacked; I'm an idiot.

"Jaws" most likley drove down beach attendence at one time, but I think now, the impact of "Jaws" is confined to situations when there are sharks present.

[Mike P]

I wonder if GWs carry cell phones?

"Yo, matey---blitz off Nauset. Get your ass hear ASAP"

[Surfpirate]

Anybody seen LAPTEW?

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by Surfpirate

Anybody seen LAPTEW?