Man dies from shark attack off Cape Cod beach.

[TheCowsCameHome]

Unfolding now, what a horrible incident. Beautiful, sunny beach day turns tragic. Sharks have been the big news here lately.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/09/15/swimmer-attacked-shark-wellfleet-beach/BUHXXP2zGvNYQ5QoyyAD8I/story.html

[smirkymonkey]

1. Another shark attack?

How awful! I'm so sorry for this man and his family. I grew up going to Cape Cod beaches in the summer and I never remember any shark sightings. It has been out of control lately.

[Separation]

2. Historically

The Cape has always been swimming grounds for White Sharks. Its literally where the idea Jaws came from.

Like you said though, something is different. It's not like sharks all of a sudden say, "Mmmm, man" "The other white meat". So it's probably is a food issue, and that darn "global warming". 🤫

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Seals. They're coming for the seals.

Seals are here by the thousands.

[underpants]

5. Yep

See below.

[underpants]

4. Seal population

I know someone who owns a home there. Conservative guy but old school not Trumpian. We had great lunches together and there were stories about sightings last summer I think. He said they've had an aggressive seal preservation effort there and it's bringing the sharks closer to shore.

[Submariner]

8. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 triggered the seal population explosion

Until the early 60s seals were hunted ruthlessly for a bounty until the Act protected them.

I used to drive Race Point stretch of beach while surf fishing, and in the 1970s they were absent, by the late 80s they began showing up in numbers, and now it's a shark smorgasbord.

[underpants]

9. Great gif tag line

As a Cav Scout I always held submariners in the same side set for the Navy as I feel about Scouts regarding the Army. There's just something special and different about us. It might have to do with just being quiet or sucking it up. I don't know.

[smirkymonkey]

6. I'm sure it has been, I just don't remember it ever being a serious threat for swimmers

at mid-cape beaches. They have probably always been there, but I don't remember reports of them preying on swimmers like this. It's been a particularly bad summer.

[seaglass]

7. We have had a house at the Cape for a few years, the water seems to get warmer every year.

This year it was almost at 80 for an extended period. The seals of course are also a major attraction.