It’s a positive signal that Memorial Day weekend is quick approaching.
The primary reported white shark assault on a seal of the season was confirmed off Massachusetts over the weekend.
The aftermath of the shark predation incident was captured by the Nantucket Present — on the west finish of Nantucket, at Smith’s Level in Madaket.
The shark assault on a seal was recorded on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.
“1st of the season,” the Sharktivity app put up reads.
The white shark was estimated to be between 7- and 9-feet lengthy.
“This is the time of year that white shark activity starts to pick up,” shark researcher John Chisholm posted concerning the incident. “If you have a sighting or witness a predation, please use the @sharktivity app to let us know.”
In the meantime final week, a number of basking sharks have been seen off Plymouth. Chisholm was alerted to the positioning, and he counted a minimum of 5 basking sharks near the seashore.
Basking sharks are as much as 30 toes lengthy, and so they filter feed on plankton.
The slow-moving sharks — which are sometimes mistaken for nice white sharks — have been noticed on some current whale watches throughout the area.
“Both white sharks and basking sharks are off Massachusetts now,” Chisholm posted. “Here’s a cheat sheet on how to tell them apart. Remember, if you see a white shark please use the @sharktivity app to report it.”
Chisholm each spring receives many shark reviews that turned out to be basking sharks, as an alternative of nice white sharks.
They’re typically mistaken for white sharks given their related proportions.
White sharks have a pointed dorsal fin, whereas basking sharks have a rounded fin. Additionally, white sharks have two-tone coloration, and basking sharks have uniform coloration.
One other major distinction is that white sharks have giant gill slits, whereas basking sharks have additional giant gill slits.
Chisholm continues to remind individuals who see a white shark to report it on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.
