Great White Sharks Cause Fear In Cape Cod, Swimming Banned In Chatham

Residents in one Cape Cod town are being warned to stay out of the waters after two great white sharks were spotted in the towns waters.

One report puts the size of one shark at 16 feet long, prompting officials in Chatham, Massachusetts to ban swimming in an area known for harboring seals, a prime source of food for great white sharks.

According to The Cape Cod Chronicle in a Tweet issued on Sunday night:

“Chatham issues advisory after numerous shark sightings, banning swimming within 300 feet of seals along eastern coast.”

The two shark sightings were confirmed by George Breens of the Cape Code Shark Hunters, a conservation group that routinely surveys the area for shark sightings.

One great white was spotted a half mile offshore, while the other was just 50 yards from land.

Last year the shark group tagged eight sharks for research but the two discovered this week were not tagged.

In an interview with MSNBC Joe Fitzback, a veteran sea-captain with Chatman Bait & Tackle revealed:

“The great whites have always been here and we will have more. We have so many seals that it only makes sense that we will have more sightings as the years go by.”

Other great white sharks have been spotted in the area and two transmitters went off last week signaling that at least two of last years great white sharks have returned to the area.

Would you be afraid to swim in Cape Cod waters with great white sharks coming as close as 50 feet from the shoreline?