October 20, 2015 — Though shark research is winding down as the cold weather moves in, Orleans Selectman John Hodgson already has his eyes on next year’s shark population.
Hodgson is calling for the creation of a nonprofit organization called Cape Cod Shark Watch that would bring together federal, state, and local officials to implement “common sense ideas” to keep people safe from sharks in the waters off Cape Cod.
Though Orleans had no shark-related injuries among beachgoers this summer, Hodsgon said educating the public will be necessary to keep people safe as shark sightings increase.
Hodgson said in his proposal, which was released last week, that researchers have identified more than 100 great white sharks off the Cape coast this summer.
“This is not a swimming pool in Orleans, so it’s not just an Orleans problem. We’re talking about the Atlantic Ocean,” he said. “These sharks are not sitting at a toll booth, waiting to pass through and be acknowledged . . . We’re going to have to have a regional approach to this, especially on the communication side of things.”