Succeeding the tragic events on Amity Island, locals of New Hampshire have become concerned with the safety of their coastlines. With recent shark sightings this past summer, Dianna Schulte, co-founder of the Blue Ocean Society, stated that little worry is necessary.
"People are not normally on the menu of sharks," said Schulte. "More people are likely to be killed in an accident involving a moose or deer."
Schulte said blue sharks are the most common large shark found off the New England coast. The Blue sharks are “exclusively fish feeders” and as of now, there has never been a single shark attack documented off the New Hampshire coast.
Still, she warned that people should take precautions if they see any shark in the water. A shark is a wild animal that should only act if threatened or provoked. Schulte also argued that a shark is more likely to mistake a person for something else due to poor visibility at dawn or dusk.
"Swimmers should take note of any seals in the area which could attract sharks," said Schulte. "If a seal is spotted nearby, a person should get out of the water."
Schulte also offered the last attack resulting in death from a shark bite occurred in 1936 in Massachusetts’ Buzzards Bay. A sighting of a white shark along the New Hampshire coast would be a “very rare and exceptional event.” She claimed that white sharks are more common off Cape Cod where they mostly feed on grey seals.
"If a white shark were seen off New Hampshire’s coast," said Schulte, "it would most likely be in transit and not hanging around."
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