A swimmer was observed entering the Atlantic Ocean at Marconi Beach on Cape Cod to approach seals, an action that has drawn criticism from marine experts and social media users concerned about the potential presence of great white sharks. Photographer Mark Filteau captured video of the incident, which he posted to a local Facebook page with a plea for beachgoers to avoid swimming with seals.
John Chisholm, a Massachusetts shark researcher and adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium, warned against such behavior, noting that the seals are often followed by sharks. He pointed out that a seal carcass had washed ashore at the same beach on the day the video was taken. Chisholm advised swimmers to stay close to shore, avoid waters with seals or schools of fish, and to be aware that sharks frequently hunt seals in shallow areas.
The swimmer's actions were described by social media users as "stupid" and "shark bait." Many online commenters speculated that the individual was an uninformed tourist, noting that locals are aware of the risks associated with swimming near seals in areas known for shark activity. Some comments sarcastically suggested the swimmer was a candidate for a "Darwin award."
Chisholm, who has researched white sharks for nearly 40 years and contributes to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app, recommended swimming, paddling, kayaking, and surfing in groups. He also stressed the importance of adhering to posted signage and flag warnings at beaches.
The incident occurs amid reports of increased great white shark activity off the Cape Cod coast. The area, sometimes referred to as "Shark Alley," has seen researchers tag and track numerous great white sharks. Since 2015, researchers have observed a significant return of great white sharks to these waters. Despite heightened awareness of sharks moving closer to shorelines along the East Coast, no shark attack fatalities have been reported in the Cape Cod area in the last five years. The last reported shark-related fatality in the Northeast occurred off the coast of Maine in 2020.