Cape Cod scientists tag first great white shark of season

CAPE COD, Mass., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Dozens of great white sharks have been frequenting the waters off the coast of Cape Cod. Now, another of the magnificent beasts is trackable -- the first great white to be tagged this season.

The Massachusetts Shark Research Program announced Thursday that -- with the help of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy -- a 12-foot great white shark is now equipped with an electronic tracking device. There are now 40 trackable sharks that visit Cape Cod on a regular basis.

A number of reports have claimed white sharks are gathering along the East Coast in increasing numbers. Not long ago, a local tuna fisherman captured footage of a 16- to 18-foot great white circling his boat.

"This is the biggest White Shark I have ever seen. But I've seen some very large Mako sharks," Tyler Macallister, captain of the F/V Cynthia C, told Boston Magazine.

The successful tag comes after weeks of searching for sharks via sea plane. Twice a week, scientists with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy scan Cape Cod's waters by spotter plane and boat looking for potential specimens. Many have been spotted, but only now has one been tagged.