Researchers Seeing More Sharks Up And Down the East Coast

BOSTON (AP) — Marine researchers say shark sightings are up slightly along the East Coast this summer.

Massachusetts state biologist Gregory Skomal studies the great whites in Cape Cod's waters. He says the powerful predators appear to have shown up earlier and in larger numbers than in previous years, though their numbers typically don't peak until August and September. He says his team has tagged eight newsharks this year versus three this time last year.

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South Carolina state marine biologist Bryan Frazier says preliminary data from surveys of sandbar, blacktip and other sharks suggest the populations are continuing their steady rise after years of overfishing.

The International Shark Attack File says there have been 22 confirmed shark attacks in the U.S. this year, none fatal. There have been 36 worldwide, three fatal.