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Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
First confirmed 2025 sighting of white shark in Mass. waters
The first white shark of the 2025 season has been spotted off the coast of Massachusetts. The sighting happened off of Nantucket on May 11, according to The New England Aquarium (NEAQ). A person who was on the shore of Smith's Point in Madaket on the island noticed a 'pool of blood' in the water, then saw a seal swimming toward the beach. A shark was following close behind the seal, the witness said. After the seal got to shore, an NEAQ scientist examined pictures of the seal's wounds and confirmed its bites came from a white shark. 'This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be 'shark smart' as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England, where they'll hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall,' said John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist in the Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. To be 'shark smart,' the public should be aware of sharks' presence in shallow waters. The public is also advised to avoid areas where there are seals or schools of fish, and to stay close to shore. Scientists also encourage the public to report shark sightings through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app, which has information on shark activity. 'Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem, but this recovery also means that people should take even more care while swimming or surfing,' said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Anderson Cabot Center's Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies program. 'Our work in the Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center focuses on balancing ocean use with preservation, meaning we recognize the importance of the ocean for human use while trying to reduce the impact of humans on sharks, and vice versa,' Whitney said. This limited edition cherry blossom multi-styler is the perfect Dyson Airwrap dupe This Shark Vacuum is under $200 and it might be the best Dyson alternative yet 100 sharks were tagged on Cape Cod. Here's where they went Owner wants to sell Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream in Worcester Shark sighting: Orleans police respond to 'not typical' call for service Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Season's first great white shark sighting in Massachusetts confirmed
NANTUCKET, Mass. (WWLP) – The season's first great white shark sighting was confirmed in Massachusetts, and Aquarium scientists are urging the public to be aware of their surroundings and report shark sightings if heading to the beach this summer. The New England Aquarium is urging the public to keep an eye out, be aware of their surroundings, and report shark sightings. The New England Aquarium says that on Sunday, a person noticed a pool of blood in the water off Smith's Point, the farthest west end of Nantucket. Examining the water, the person then saw a seal swimming toward he beach with a shark following it. Shark attacks: How much should you worry? Photos of the deceased seal were examined by shark expert John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist at the Aquarium, who confirmed that the wounds were from a white shark bite. 'This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be 'shark smart' as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England, where they'll hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall,' Chisholm said. The white shark, or the great white shark, is built for speed with its torpedo-shaped body and has the ability to raise their body temperature above the surrounding seawater, which is rare in the fish world. The Department of Fish and Game says small white sharks are known to feed on striped bass and larger sharks target seals or scavenging humpback, minke, and right whales in Massachusetts waters. To help beachgoers track and report shark sightings, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is encouraging people to use the 'Sharktivity' app. It also helps raise awareness of a healthy co-existence between sharks and people. 'Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem, but this recovery also means that people should take even more care while swimming or surfing,' said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Anderson Cabot Center's Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies program. 'Our work in the Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center focuses on balancing ocean use with preservation, meaning we recognize the importance of the ocean for human use while trying to reduce the impact of humans on sharks, and vice versa.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
22-04-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Low number of right whale births this season worries scientists at the New England Aquarium
Three females gave birth for the first time, offering some hope for the Advertisement Three of the new mothers have prominent scars from being struck by vessels, according to Amy Warren, the Anderson Cabot Center's scientific program officer. 'These injuries are a harsh reminder of their daily threats and an additional hurdle to overcome on their journey to motherhood,' Warren said in the statement. At least seven of the 11 mother-calf pairs have been seen in Massachusetts waters this spring, the aquarium said. An aerial survey team from the Center for Coastal Studies discovered the 11th mother of the season, named Monarch, on April 17 in Cape Cod Bay, the Aquarium said. A 44-year-old right whale, known as Grand Teton, mothered another calf this season, at least her ninth calf overall. Grand Teton is one of an estimated 70 reproductive females remaining in the population, scientists said. Advertisement 'Whales like Grand Teton give me hope for the species,' Hamilton said. 'She has been calving for over four decades, and unlike the majority of the population, remains relatively free of scars from past entanglements. The future of the species hangs on females like her.' Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
Boston Globe
08-03-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Internal tagging confirms long-term survivability of rehabilitated sea turtles
For the first time, researchers finally have the tools to track these turtles beyond a few months after their release, thanks to a breakthrough application of technology never before used on sea turtles. In 2021, the aquarium obtained federal permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to surgically implant acoustic transmitters in rehabilitated loggerheads. The transmitter, that's battery life ranges from three years for smaller turtles and seven to 10 years for larger ones, allows researchers to track survival and migration patterns. This data was previously unattainable with shorter-lived external tags, which often detached due to natural shell shedding and physical wear. Advertisement 'They're basically sending out ultrasonic pings that are uniquely coded to each transmitter. It's kind of like an E-ZPass system—each tag has a unique code that pings, and in this case, the listening station is an acoustic receiver," said Dr. Kara Dodge, a research scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center and a lead on the project. Fourteen loggerheads that were rehabilitated at the aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, Massachusetts, were tagged and released between 2021 and 2022. Four years of data confirm that not only are these turtles surviving, but they are consistently returning to the waters of southern New England—especially Nantucket Sound, off Cape Cod's south coast. Monthly loggerhead sea turtle detections from August 2021 to July 2024. Data was derived from New England Aquarium acoustic receiver arrays and institutions participating in data sharing networks from Massachusetts to Florida. New England Aquarium These findings have far-reaching implications for better understanding loggerhead migration patterns, confirming that rehabilitated sea turtles can thrive long-term, proving that internal acoustic tagging is viable for studying other species, and gathering data that could help shape future conservation policies. Advertisement 'This is helping us understand that the turtles are surviving past that first year after they're released. Before, we really didn't have any information beyond a year, so this is huge,' Dodge said. The permitting process for sea turtle tagging varies based on a species' conservation status—the more endangered the species, the stricter the requirements. 'This was a pilot study, and we specifically chose loggerheads because they are listed as threatened, not critically endangered. Now that we have results, we're applying for permits to expand this work to Kemp's Ridley and green sea turtles,' Dodge said. The data also highlights the growing ecological importance of New England's coastal waters for sea turtles, which have been straying farther north and staying there longer, likely due to multiple factors, including warming ocean temperatures. Mary Beth Tims, biologist moved a loggerhead onto the table so that it could be x-rayed at the New England Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff 'New England is really the northern extent of their range, and the reason they come up here is to feast on the abundant shellfish and crabs we have. They're here for the buffet,' Dodge said. Between November and January, more than 800 turtles stranded on Massachusetts beaches. About 15 years ago, only 100 strandings per winter were common, but the average number has more than quintupled over that time, Dodge said. Related : 'If we continue to gather data for larger numbers of turtles in New England waters, we will likely have a better understanding of when they are typically present and where they spend their time, both of which may inform future protective measures,' Dodge said. Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
