The Dorsal Fin

Boston’s NECN is reporting that three Chatham beaches have been closed indefinitely after beachgoers witnessed a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) preying on a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) “close to beach.” The three beaches closed are North Beach, North Beach Island and South Beach are closed to swimming. A swimming ban from 5pm to 9:30am still remains in effect for Chatham’s Lighthouse Beach.

NECN reports that a ban on swimming between 5pm and 9:30am has been put into effect along east-facing beaches in Chatham, Massachusetts. The ban began Wednesday (August 10) after a white shark was spotted “a little too close to shore,” according to the report.

While the report notes that the feeding time for white sharks is “from dusk ’til dawn,” white sharks have been documented to feed during daylight hours. The ban coincides with times when officials are not able to patrol those areas for sharks, which is likely a more reasonable explanation for the time-frame of the ban, which was also pointed out in the report.

Boston’s WHDH reports that swimmers have been warned to stay at least 300′ away from seal colonies. The large seal population in the area is believed to be responsible for the increase in white shark sightings over recent years, as the seals are a natural prey item for the shark.

The warning comes after multiple credible white shark sightings were reported in the area over the past week, as well as reports of seal carcass sightings.

Boston’s WHDH-7 is reporting that officials have issued a warning about the presence of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) off of Chatham, Massachusetts. Last weekend six white shark were spotted by plane and eight by boat. While no beaches have been closed, officials want people to be aware of the sharks’ presence.

It’s that time of year again in New England. MyFoxBoston.com is reporting that a 10′ great white shark was sighted off of Chatham, Massachusetts. This marks the 4th sighting in the area since the beginning of last week.

The Chatham Harbormaster confirmed the sighting and said the shark is where he “expected” a white shark would be. The shark was spotted off Monomoy Point, about 200-300 yards from the southernmost tip of Chatham.

Large seal populations have been drawing white sharks to the area during the summer months for a number of years.