If you were asked where great whites are most likely to be found, you would probably say in the waters off South Africa, Australia, and California. A slightly lesser-known shark hotspot is Cape Cod.
‘The Cape’ is found on the East Coast of the USA, 2 hours from Boston, and is a summer vacation spot for many. Reasons for its popularity include the stunning national seashore, the seafood, and the laidback lifestyle. However, disrupting many visitors’ summers is the worry of not knowing whether there is a 15-foot, man-eating predator lurking beneath the water.
Fortunately, you can use two things to locate a shark: seals and an app called ‘Sharktivity.’ Sharktivity’s researchers have tagged 280 Great Whites, and this is done by inserting a chip into the dorsal fin. Each time the shark surfaces, the signal is picked up, and an icon will appear on the map – precisely where it surfaced. The public are also able to contribute and can file a sighting on the app – including a picture and a description of the shark if they’d like. In 2021, through this tagging method, 132 distinct sharks were detected off the Cape’s shores. The primary reason for their prevalence is the copious availability of food. There are an estimated 50,000 seals on Cape Cod and their blubber, a source of energy, proves very nutritious for the sharks.
Seals lead a perilous life on Cape Cod, but there are places of sanctuary. The absence of sharks is because sandbars, such as Monomoy Island and North Beach, act as a barrier as the sharks fear becoming stranded. Many seals are often found in these bays- safe and very pleased with the incoming fishing boats which always have food for them. But that contentment is short-lived as the seals realise they are trapped in a shark’s world on Cape Cod.
