The legendary killer whale generally known as “Old Thom” is again.
A gaggle on a tuna fishing expedition off Massachusetts over the weekend noticed the well-known orca — resulting in loads of pleasure from the fishing crew.
Outdated Thom was seen with a pod of dolphins, which is typical conduct from the killer whale.
“There he is! There he is! It’s an orca!” Donna Piraino mentioned when she noticed Outdated Thom. “That’s crazy! That is crazy!”
The killer whale was noticed off Stellwagen Financial institution Nationwide Marine Sanctuary — which is greater than 20 miles east of Boston, between Cape Cod and Cape Ann.
Researchers are capable of establish Outdated Thom based mostly on his very distinct dorsal fin. The solitary bull orca was first noticed 17 years in the past.
Final 12 months, boaters noticed Outdated Thom off Chatham. Orca sightings are very uncommon in these elements, and researchers urge anybody who sees an orca to report it.
Killer whales have been seen attacking nice white sharks off South Africa in recent times. That hasn’t occurred off the Cape, but.
In the meantime, Cape shark researchers lately tagged the primary white shark of the season. Shark scientist Greg Skomal of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, working with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, tagged a white shark in Cape Cod Bay.
“This also marks the first camera tag deployment in Cape Cod Bay!” the Conservancy posted.
“The video footage and data recorded by the tags will be used to learn more about white shark habitat use and behavior in Cape Cod Bay and will be compared with previous deployments along the Outer Cape to evaluate differences between how sharks use those two areas and how that may translate to differences in the risk posed by sharks to recreational water users.”
First white shark tagged of the season! Yesterday, Dr. Greg Skomal, with the @MassDMF, working with the AWSC, tagged a white shark in Cape Cod Bay. This additionally marks the primary digital camera tag deployment in Cape Cod Bay! pic.twitter.com/0oWtg8OCme
— Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (@A_WhiteShark) August 8, 2025
Yearly, native researchers have been getting stories of white sharks in Cape Cod Bay stealing striped bass off fishing traces.
Researchers with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy are hoping to be taught extra about these shark and hooked striped bass interactions this summer time, and the digital camera tags in Cape Cod Bay might assist shed some mild on this shark conduct within the bay.
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