THERE are fears great white sharks will kill again off Cape Cod in Massachusetts after a high profile study found no protective measure could make the waters completely safe.
Last year 26-year-old Arthur Medici was killed by a shark off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. The victim was bodyboarding at the time of the attack.
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This was just one of three attacks on humans off the towns of Wellfleet and Truro since 2012.
According to the local Boston Herald “the jump in shark sightings has many on the Cape fearing the predators will claim another life, or more”.
Six Cape towns combined resources to fund the study by environmental consulting firm Woods Hole Group.
In total it cost $50,000 (£38,500) to fund the report.
Great White Sharks are responsible for more attacks on humans than any other species (Image: GETTY)
There have been a number of shark attacks off Cape Cod in recent years (Image: GETTY )
It concluded security for humans could not be guaranteed around the Cape.
The report said: “There are no silver bullet solutions to ensure 100% safety for individuals who choose to enter the water.”
The authors didn’t advocate more radical solutions, such as culling seals.
It is believed an increase in the local seal population has attracted more sharks.
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Shark attacks off Cape Cod (Image: GETTY)
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Humans are particularly in danger when around seals, which Great White Sharks seek to hunt.
The report said: “Additional research should be conducted prior to the deployment of any technology based, barrier based or biologically based shark mitigation strategy.”
Instead it recommends “modifying human behaviour”, “better “stop the bleeding” training and more lifeguards.
In addition the study recommended looking into rigid netting and simulated kelp forests around popular beaches, but admitted this would be expensive.
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“There are no silver bullet solutions to ensure 100% safety (Image: GETTY )
Increased seal numbers around cape cod have boosted the shark population (Image: GETTY)
However the report has not received a universal welcome from local officials.
Speaking to the Boston Herald Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty expressed his disappointment.
He commented: “From my perspective the highly questionable great white shark Mitigation Study and Report recently issued by the Woods Hole Group is a waste of public funds.”
Mr Beaty went on to describe it as “a failure by our political leaders to properly deliver concrete solutions for the residents of Cape Cod”.
Great white sharks are responsible for more fatal unprovoked attacks on humans than any other species.
Females usually average 15 to 16 feet in length, with males a little smaller.
However females of up to 20 feet in length have been recorded.
Female Great White Sharks can reach up to 20 feet in length (Image: GETTY )
Their only known predators are killer whales, but such attacks are rare.
The report said: “Additional research should be conducted prior to the development of any technology based, barrier based or biologically based shark mitigation strategy.
“Prior to deployment it would be crucial to understand the potential adverse environmental impacts.”
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