Scientists begin great white shark count off Cape

A shark gives swimmers a scare in Orleans, Massachusetts.

The 12 to 15 foot Great White Shark was spotted near Nauset Beach in Cape Cod Saturday morning.

The crew, who is working with state shark scientist Gregory Skomal to study the great white population in the North Atlantic, identified the shark as female; she has since been named “Ping,” Wigren said.

The vessel and spotter plane go out twice a week to search for great whites in the waters off Cape Cod. This was their fourth expedition this year, Wigren said.

Ping was traveling alone and moving very slowly through the water, the director said.
“She was just cruising around very casually and luckily we were able to stay with her for over an hour,” Wigren said.

On Monday, two tuna fisherman working the Cape Cod Bay about 6 miles southwest of Provincetown spotted a 16- to 18-foot great white.

According to Skomal, who is a researcher for the Division of Marine Fisheries, great white sightings are far from unusual this time of year.

Agencies/Canadajournal