It is that time again.
Great white shark sightings are beginning to increase along the Massachusetts coastline as the temperatures warm and sharks head north, experts tell us.
The annual reminder comes as a fisherman caught and released a great white shark off Nantucket, all caught on video. Elliot Sudal said it was about 15 seconds between bringing the shark in to getting it back in the ocean.
Capt. Bobby Rice of Reel Deal Fishing Charters said he saw sharks while out on Cape Cod Bay on Tuesday. He had a fish attacked by a shark while fishing last summer.
“It is incredibly exciting to see the species come back year in and year out,” said Kristen Smith, outreach manager for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
But the return of the sharks also comes with a warning for swimmers and visitors heading to New England’s beaches.
Tom Rocci was striper fishing out on Boston Harbor when a great white shark came by, leaving him and his friends stunned.
On Tuesday, the Cape Cod National Seashore issued a shark safety reminder for those headed to New England for the World Cup, noting that spotter planes have already observed sharks near swimming beaches.
Experts said swimmers should remain aware of their surroundings, stay close to shore and avoid areas where seals or schools of fish are present.
“To be able to stay waist deep or less, avoid murky water, staying away from seals and schools of fish — those are a few of the tips,” Smith said.
John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium, said the sightings are consistent with what experts typically see at this point in the season.
“Sightings are starting to increase,” Chisholm said. “The water is getting warmer and the sharks are migrating north.”
Researchers who study and tag sharks off the coast of Massachusetts have noticed a trend.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app is already showing shark activity across the region, including reports near Boston Harbor, outside Provincetown in Cape Cod Bay and near Chatham.
“Right now, it is pretty typical of previous years, so we will see what happens as the summer goes on,” Chisholm said.
Chisholm urged swimmers not to enter the water near seals or schools of fish, which can attract sharks, and to avoid swimming alone or far from shore.
“People need to be aware the sharks are here,” he said. “This is their home, and when you go into their home, you need to be prepared.”
Experts also encouraged anyone who spots a shark to report the sighting through that Sharktivity app.
“Be aware. I can’t say it enough,” Chisholm said. “And the other side of that coin: If you see one, report it.”