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Dr Greg Skomal on sharks, misconceptions, and the fact that they will be back to Cape Cod this summer
Many of us have vivid memories of watching Stephen Spielberg’s cinematographic hit, Jaws, and vowing to never dip our toes in the water (pools and ocean alike) again. With the recent reappearance of Great White Sharks off the coast of Chatham, more attention has been paid to this aquatic species, which has garnered a bit of a bad reputation over the years. But Dr. Greg Skomal, Senior Marine Fisheries Biologist at the MA Marine Fisheries, has logged enough time around the large-jawed set to know them well, as he and spent last year tagging sharks locally. The good doctor dishes on sharks, how much we should worry about their presence, and his upcoming Discovery Channel documentary.
Cape Cod Magazine: You have become known as a bit of a shark whisperer. How did you get into this field?
GS: I’ve always had a strong interest in marine biology and sharks, in particular. I studied marine science in college and grad school and began working at the NMFS Cooperative Shark Tagging Program in Rhode Island after volunteering for a brief stint. I moved to MA DMF in 1987, establishing the Shark
Research Project in 1989.
CCM: You recently filmed a new documentary, partially in Chatham. What can viewers expect from it and when will it air?
GS: It is a documentary highlighting our white shark research. It will air on Discovery during Shark Week 2011.
CCM: What is the biggest misconception about sharks?
GS: That they prefer to eat people.
CCM: Have the sharks been here all along and we are just paying more notice to them or is their presence a new phenomenon?
GS: A little of both, depending on species. For example, Cape Cod has always been part of the natural seasonal distribution of the white shark, we believe their numbers are increasing as they respond to the growing seal population.
CCM: What is your best advice for locals in regards to keeping a harmonious relationship between us and the sharks?
GS: Use common sense as you would any time you go in the ocean. I would be more concerned about tides, currents, and the traffic on the way to the beach.
CCM: If sharks are the “most feared” animal in our local waters, what is the least feared?
GS: I’m not sure if sharks are the most feared animal in our local waters, but we can probably safely say that marine mammals, like whales, are the least feared.
CCM: You tagged a few sharks locally this past year. Have you been monitoring them? Will you be tagging any more?
GS: We are receiving data now from the sharks we tagged in 2010. We do plan to tag in 2011.
CCM: Have you had any recent shark adventures outside the Cape and Islands?
GS: I’ve been fortunate to work with sharks in several parts of the world. My next adventure is to the Red Sea for whale shark tagging with colleagues from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
