Shark chomps on seal close to Massachusetts beaches: 'We're in peak white shark season'

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on Sep 15, 2025

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BOSTON — It was only a matter of time before a white shark showed up for breakfast.

Shark researcher John Chisholm called it when he spotted a colony of seals off Plymouth’s Manomet Point over the weekend.

Soon after, a great white shark chomped on one of the seals — leading to the seal’s likely death and triggering beach closures.

“This should serve as a reminder that we’re in peak white shark season,” posted Chisholm, who’s an adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium.

“With warm weather in the forecast, you need to remain vigilant when entering the water!” he added.

The seal survived the initial bite and made it to the rocks off Stage Point. But it was a “mortal wound,” Chisholm said.

“The wounds are severe and it most likely won’t survive,” he added.

Plymouth White Horse Beach and Long Beach were closed to swimming on Sunday, as the beaches had red flag warnings due to the white shark off Manomet Point.

The beaches reopened on Monday under yellow flags — meaning “use caution.”

“White shark activity is at its peak from August through October in Massachusetts,” the Town of Plymouth posted. “Please note that Manomet Point has an established seal haul-out area, which attracts white sharks.”

Meanwhile, Monday was the seventh anniversary of Arthur Medici’s death after he was bitten by a white shark off Newcomb Hollow beach in Wellfleet.

That was the last fatal white shark bite of a human off the Cape.

“Please take a moment to remember him and his family today,” Chisholm posted. “Also keep in mind this is peak white shark season. Be #SharkSmart and stay vigilant.”

Last year, September had the second most shark detections off the Cape — with 44,662 great white shark detections, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Logbook.

October had the most shark detections with 55,187, and August had the third most detections with 40,725.

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