Recent great white shark sightings off Cape Cod in Massachusetts have prompted a local official to propose a controversial public safety measure.
Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty has suggested a ‘shark hazard mitigation strategy’ that would involve catching and killing the endangered species.
Over the last 30 days, more than 80 shark sightings have been reported off the Cape’s coast, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
No human has yet to be bitten, but fears have been sparked fears that a maiming is imminent.
Recent great white shark sightings off Cape Cod in Massachusetts have prompted Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty to suggest a ‘shark hazard mitigation strategy’ that would involve catching and killing the endangered species (Pictured, sharks feeding on a school of fish in the Hamptons, Long Island)
Beaty’s plan involves deploying bait drum lines near popular beaches using hooks designed to catch great white sharks. Large sharks found hooked but still alive would be shot and t discarded at sea (Pictured, sharks feeding on a school of fish in the Hamptons, Long Island)
There have been two shark attacks in the last six days. On Wednesday, 69-year-old Cleveland Bigalow was paddle boarding in about three to four feet of water at Marconi Beach when a shark took a bite out of his board (pictured). Bigalow was unharmed in the incident
It is believed that most of the shark sightings are due to the high number of seals in the area.
On Monday, a video went viral of a shark attacking a seal off Nauset Beach, which was crowded with people.
In the clip, an expanding pool of blood is seen in the water as beachgoers scream and lifeguards yell for two surfers to come in.
And although the sea creatures stay away from humans most of the time, there have been occasional encounters.
On Wednesday 69-year-old Cleveland Bigalow was paddle boarding in about three to four feet of water at Marconi Beach when a shark took a bite out of his board.
Bigalow was unharmed in the attack and did not require medical care.
Although humans are not the preferred prey of great whites, the species is the animal with the highest recorded number of fatal attacks, according to the Florida Museum.
On Monday, a video went viral of a shark attacking a seal off Nauset Beach, which was crowded with people (pictured)
In the clip, an expanding pool of blood is seen in the water as beachgoers scream and lifeguards yell for two surfers to come in (pictured)
Despite the attacks, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy disagreed with Beaty’s plan, arguing that the presence of sharks is indicative of a healthy ecosystem
‘I think we’ve been extraordinarily lucky to this point that it has not been someones child or a person being maimed or killed,’ Beaty told WCVB on Tuesday. ‘We need to start addressing the problem because it’s going to only get worse in the years ahead.’
Beaty’s plan involves deploying bait drum lines near popular beaches using hooks designed to catch great white sharks.
‘Large sharks found hooked but still alive are shot and their bodies discarded at sea. This is a targeted, localized, shark hazard mitigation strategy,’ it read in a press release.
But the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy disagreed with the plan, arguing that the presence of sharks is indicative of a healthy ecosystem.
‘The proposal by Commissioner Beaty to kill white sharks to improve safety has been trialed in Western Australia without success,’ the conservancy said in a statement.
‘According to the Western Australia Fisheries…there was no evidence that the cull made beaches safer.’