Paddle Board Bitten by Shark off Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, Beach Reopened

Section of paddle board bitten by a shark Wednesday off Marconi Beach in Wellfleet

WELLFLEET – The Cape Cod National Seashore has confirmed that a paddle board was bitten by a shark Wednesday morning at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet.

The person on the board was not injured, according to Acting Seashore Superintendent Kathy Tevyaw.

“He was not bitten by the shark but there are definitely teeth marks in his board,” she said.

Tevyaw said the paddle boarder was 30 yards off-shore in three feet of water, about 75 yards south of the guarded section of the beach.

“We are getting some help from the Division of Marine Fisheries Greg Skomal, as well as the [Atlantic] White Shark Conservancy coming in to help investigate this,” she said.

Marconi Beach was closed to swimming while officials investigated the incident and has since been reopened.

Tevyaw said seals were observed in the area at the time of the bite, which happened during high tide and calm seas.

“The people need to really understand the habitat that they are in and that sharks are part of that ecosystem,” she said. “We’re asking people to pay attention to the lifeguards to understand that they should be where their feet can touch the bottom.”

Tevyaw said swimmers should be aware and not swim alone or at dusk and dawn.

“We really hope that people will be serious about following all of the safety recommendations that we are making,” she said.

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