On Sunday morning, a great white shark was filmed attacking a seal in the shallow waters just off Great Point Beach on Nantucket, Massachusetts. The incident was witnessed by longtime resident Carrie Drayton and her boyfriend, Tyler O’Brien, who were driving along the shoreline when the seal suddenly surged out of the water around 10:30 a.m.
Eyewitness video shows dramatic encounter
Drayton’s video, posted to local news outlets, shows the shark’s dorsal fin breaking the surface, followed by a splash of blood as the predator pulls the seal beneath the waves. A second seal can be seen on the beach, watching the scene unfold. “It was absolutely insane,” Drayton told Boston.com. “It was truly wild. I could have reached out and touched it.” She added that the odds of seeing such a moment were about the same as “having a greater chance of winning the lottery.”
Why the timing makes sense
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy notes that shark activity in the Nantucket area peaks in September and October, when great whites move closer to shore in search of food. A senior fisheries scientist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries confirmed that the animal in the video was indeed a great white shark feeding on a seal, a behavior that is not unusual for the Great Point region.
“White sharks are known to move through Nantucket waters as they migrate north in the early summer and south in the fall,” said Gregory Skomal, a fisheries scientist familiar with the area. “The seals around Great Point provide a viable source of food for them during this period.”
Local context and safety reminders
Drayton and O’Brien were participating in a fishing tournament when they happened upon the encounter, which she credits to being in the right place at the right time. While the sight was startling, experts stress that such incidents remain rare and that the risk to beachgoers is low.
Authorities continue to advise swimmers and surfers to stay alert, especially during the peak months for shark activity. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries recommends staying in groups, avoiding water near seal colonies, and heeding any local advisories posted at beaches.
Conservation perspective
Both the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and state fisheries officials emphasize the ecological importance of great white sharks. These apex predators help maintain a balanced marine ecosystem, and their presence off Nantucket is a sign of a healthy ocean environment.
“Sharks play a critical role in keeping marine ecosystems robust,” said a spokesperson for the Conservancy. “While encounters can be dramatic, they also remind us of the need to protect both shark populations and their natural habitats.”
What residents can do
Local residents are encouraged to report any future sightings to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Community groups often organize beach safety briefings during the high‑risk months, offering tips on how to coexist safely with marine wildlife.
For those interested in learning more about shark behavior or supporting conservation efforts, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy provides educational resources and opportunities to volunteer in research projects along the New England coast.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
