Great white sharks killing prey 'very close' to beaches leads to swimming ban

12 July 2023 , 15:14

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It is not clear how long the ban will be in place (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Officials have been forced to issue swimming bans in areas of Massachusetts after great white sharks were seen close to the shore.

The predator was seen attacking seals "very close to the shore" in parts of Nantucket Island.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and non-profit Trustees of the Reservation were forced to issue the ban near Great Point and Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge until further notice.

Trustees of the Reservation Managing Director Sarah Cassell said: "After several shark sightings and predation in the area, we've decided to implement a swimming closure around Great Point until further notice. This is not a decision we've made lightly.

"Visitors' safety is our utmost concern, especially given the remote location of this beach should a serious incident occur. We'll continue to monitor shark activity in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."

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Sharks are expected in the area from July to November (SWNS.com)

FWS spokesperson David Eisenhauer said the notice would be in place indefinitely, but other areas of the refuge will be open for recreational use.

"As such, there is currently no projected timeline as to how long the prohibition on swimming may last," Eisenhauer said. "This is the first closure of the season due to shark activity and we, along with the Trustees, feel it is the best option to ensure the safety of all visitors."

Officials remain alarmed despite the seals vacating the area as experts believe they may come back.

"Dozens to hundreds" of great whites are expected to be seen in the area this year according to one of Massachusetts' leading shark experts, Dr Greg Skomal.

He told CBS: "I anticipate that dozens to hundreds of white sharks will move into Massachusetts waters over the course of that period. They will not be here at the same time, but they will move through this area."

One visitor to Nantucket was left "speechless" by a sighting of a great white in May this year.

Naturalist Andrea Spence said: "Honestly, I was just speechless. I was even shaking a little bit as I was taking photographs. The adrenaline was running, and it's something I've always wanted to see.

"You could see its teeth. Its mouth was open as it came up for that last bit of seal there, so that's when we had a lot of gasping by passengers on the boat for sure."

The Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge was acquired by the FWS from the Coast Guard in 1973.

The USFWS said: "The refuge is home to many wildlife species such as marine mammals including grey and harbour seals, numerous shorebirds such as piper plovers and American oystercatchers, various seabirds including multiple tern species and gulls, waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors."

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