Though beachgoers aren’t frequenting Cape Cod’s coastline as often in mid-September, scientists at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy are still researching the predatory fish during its peak season and announced the name of the newest white shark documented over the summer.
In late May, the Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch organization spotted a white shark eating a seal near Provincetown, and recorded the event with several images. The organization submitted the pictures to the AWSC.
The Conservancy’s research team studied the images of the shark’s dorsal fins, as each has a unique fin profile, the AWSC said. This shark had white patches on both sides of its upper caudal fin, or top part of its tail.
Though the Conservancy’s list spans over 600 different sharks detected and identified in Cape Cod waters, the shark seen by the Dolphin Fleet was not matched to any on the list.
The white-patched shark was named “Stellwagen Phantom” for its one-of-a-kind markings, the AWSC said.
To help increase awareness around sightings, the Conservancy will use images from the public, other researchers and safety officials, to verify with the New England Aquarium sightings of white sharks submitted through its Sharktivity app or sent to the organization.
“By enabling App users to report shark sightings and upload photos for confirmation, we are effectively crowd-sourcing critical data points on where sharks are spotted so as to reduce encounters and promote safety,” the AWSC said, adding that data from tagged sharks is also available on the app.
The organization encourages any who encounter white sharks to take videos and pictures to send to the AWSC for identification.
