Overview
- A 14-foot male stranded in Wellfleet early last week and a 13-foot male was found dead Saturday at Eastham’s Campground Beach, officials said.
- NECWA, the New England Aquarium and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy conducted necropsies and collected tissues with guidance from NOAA Fisheries’ Michelle Passerotti.
- Responders attempted aid, but experts note sharks must remain submerged to breathe, making survival after stranding unlikely.
- Scientists describe Cape Cod Bay as a natural fish trap that can funnel migrating sharks into shallow water as they move south in colder months.
- Authorities urge the public to report strandings promptly, and emphasize that thresher sharks feed on fish and are not considered a threat to people.