Whale Watchers Get Rare Shark Sighting at Stellwagen Bank

BOSTON – Participants on a weekend New England Aquarium whale watch caught a rare glimpse at Stellwagen Bank – a great white shark.

A summer intern, Charlie Landa, spotted a large dorsal fin just below the surface as the Boston Harbor Cruises vessel began to return from a successful trip.

The shark was identified as a great white by head naturalist Heidi Hansen.

Spotting large plankton-eating basking sharks is not unusual on the trips but the primary habitat of great whites is within 10-20 miles of the Atlantic facing beaches of the Outer Cape.

Researchers believe the shark may have ventured out further from shore as naturalists have spotted grey seals away from their large colonies dozens of miles from shore. Grey seals are the preferred prey of white sharks.

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