The first confirmed great white shark of the 2025 season has been spotted in Massachusetts waters, according to the New England Aquarium.
A witness reported the sighting Sunday off Smith’s Point in Madaket, on the western end of Nantucket. The person noticed a pool of blood in the water, followed by a seal swimming toward shore with a shark trailing behind.
John Chisholm, a shark expert and scientist at the aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, reviewed photos of the injured seal and confirmed the bite marks were from a white shark.
“This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be ‘shark smart’ as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England,” Chisholm said in a statement. “They’ll be hunting seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall.”
Being “shark smart” means avoiding areas with seals or visible schools of fish, staying close to shore, and being aware of surroundings while swimming or surfing.
To help track shark activity, the public is encouraged to use the Sharktivity app by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. The app shares real-time updates on sightings and detections to promote coexistence and safety.
“Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem,” said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center.
“But this also means swimmers and beachgoers should take extra care.”
Researchers at the aquarium continue to monitor over 15 species of sharks that pass through New England waters, using advanced tagging technology to better understand their behavior and reduce risks to both sharks and people.
(File Photo)
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