Swimming has been banned off parts of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, after great white sharks were seen attacking and killing seals “very close to shore,” authorities said.
Four seals have been killed in recent days, prompting officials from the Trustees of the Preserve and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to ban swimming near Great Point and the Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge. until further notice to ensure the safety of visitors.
Earlier Tuesday, a plane spotted nine great white sharks in the area, Sarah Cassell, managing director of marketing and communications for The Trustees, said in a statement provided to NBC News.
“This is not a decision we have made lightly,” Cassell said. “Visitor safety is our greatest concern, especially given the remote location of this beach should a serious incident occur. We will continue to monitor shark activity in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “
The Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge is located in Great Point right on the northern tip of the island, where Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean meet, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. website.
Great Point is an undeveloped barrier beach about seven miles long, one of the best places on the island to view gray seals, according to Nantucket’s website.
Seals are the main prey for the great white shark, and as the seal population increases, so does the population of great white sharks, Cassell told NBC News.
The seals have moved away from Great Point since the attacks but will likely return, meaning sharks will follow them, said David Eisenhauer, a spokesman for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
“As such, there is currently no projected timeline for how long the swimming ban may last,” Eisenhauer said. “This is the first closure of the season due to shark activity and we, along with the trustees, believe it is the best option to ensure the safety of all visitors.”
The refuge is managed by the Trustees of the Reserve and the US Fish and Wildlife Service through a cooperative agreement.
Other areas of the refuge will remain open for recreational use, Cassell said. It was not clear Tuesday which areas of the shelter are still open.
