The U.S. Coast Guard is warning boaters in the Northeast to watch out for sharks this holiday weekend. Authorities have confirmed the presence
of great white sharks off the coast of Massachusetts, but the Coast Guard has issued a shark advisory for the entire Northeast coast.
"Predation is not generally a concern for boaters and paddlers in Northeast waters," said Al Johnson, of the First Coast Guard District, based in
Boston. "But I have no doubt that a great white shark that swims into your comfort zone would surely find a splashing paddle or dangling hand
inviting. I also expect that same passing shark would spend little time differentiating between boater, paddler and prey."
In recent years, sharks seen off the New England coast have been between 6 and 15 feet long. These sharks can capsize a small boat or kayak, the Coast
Guard said.
Sharks are attracted to the area by the growing seal population, the Coast Guard said. Shark attacks on humans in the Northeast are rare, but Johnson
advises boaters and paddlers to avoid areas where seals are spotted.
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I love that one bit... "predation is not generally a concern" is a diplomatic way of saying "people don't think about being eaten"...
I wonder if the great whites will actually predate upon anybody over this holiday...
I wonder (besides the increased tasty seals, good point) if the great whites who would normally range in the Gulf of Mexico all said "My mouth tastes
like an ashtray, I'm outta here" and took off for cleaner waters, and then some of them are the extra ones the Coast Guard is seeing around Cape
Cod...