Sharks may be swimming off Cape coast soon

CHATHAM, Mass. -- Officials are warning beachgoers that great white sharks may return to the shallow waters off Cape Cod soon.

Last year, the sharks arrived to the waters off Chatham during Labor Day Weekend, just as the summer beach season was ending.

Officials said that warmer water temperatures this year could mean that the sharks could arrive earlier in the summer.

“As temperatures approach the 60-degree mark for ocean temperatures, that the presence of sharks may be more possible under those conditions,” said Dan Tobin of Chatham Parks & Recreation.

Great whites don’t come up to New England for the beautiful scenery. They usually are here to feast on seals.

“The presence of the large number of seals that we have provides a food source for sharks, and that’s the reason they’re here,” said Tobin.

Beach closures are a possibility if and when the great white sharks show up.

There have been no shark sightings off the coast of Chatham yet this year, but coastal fisherman have been told to watch out.

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