Great white shark sightings are becoming more common around the South Shore.
Marshfield Harbormaster Mike DiMeo joined WATD’s Christine James in-studio to discuss how they’re tracking the predators. DiMeo also provides safety tips for boaters during a busy summer season.
Listen to the interview here:
“In Marshfield, we have five acoustic shark-detecting buoys. Since 2009, the Division of Marine Fisheries has tagged 200 great white sharks from Chatham up to the North Shore, all in the waters of Massachusetts,” said DiMeo. “We’re doing our due diligence with the acoustic buoys.”
The predators are often difficult to spot in murky waters. Many sightings that are reported are sunfish, basking sharks, or whales. He said the great whites are getting closer to shore.
“The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy completed a study this last winter, and they found that the great whites that come to the Massachusetts waters from July through the fall months spend 47 percent of their time in water that’s 15 feet or less, or 3.3 meters,” said DiMeo. “That’s where they’re at, but that’s where the food source is as well, which would be the seal.”
Currently, data from the acoustic buoys needs to be physically collected.
The Marshfield Select Board approved an article for fall Town Meeting, which would include the purchase of real-time tracking buoys. Each buoy would be $15,000.
The board approved a shark gift account for maintenance of chains, buoys, and moorings. The data and management would be handled through the State Division of Marine Fisheries.
There are currently five real-time tracking buoys deployed, all on the Outer Cape. DiMeo said Marshfield would be on the cutting edge.
“You could be sitting on a Marshfield beach near these buoys with a 400-yard radius, and you can get an alert through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy app,” said DiMeo. “As far as public safety officials; police, fire, and lifeguards will have an email or a text message notification system set up. It gives you a little more assurance.”
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy posts tracking information through the Sharktivity app.
DiMeo cautions people to not swim near seals, in murky water, and to swim near life guards.
