Forrest Galante shares tips for navigating the growing population of great white sharks in Cape Cod waters
Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante shared insights on the increasing presence of great white sharks in the waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The area has become a significant seasonal hot spot for the predators, with roughly 800 individual white sharks visiting between 2015 and 2018.
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This growth is linked to the recovery of the local gray seal population, which increased from 2,000 in 1994 to between 30,000 and 50,000 in 2017. While the presence of sharks has fueled a new type of ecotourism, the National Park Service has recorded fewer recreational visits to the Cape Cod National Seashore. To manage the shark activity, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy created a shark-sighting app called Sharktivity. Experts advise beachgoers to stay away from seals and schools of fish, as these are the primary food sources for both white sharks and dusky sharks. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy notes that while sharks have become more frequent, they have not necessarily become more aggressive or changed their behavior by hunting closer to shore.