On Wednesday, September 3, 2014, the Town of Plymouth received multiple 911 calls reporting two kayakers in distress in the area off Manomet Point. While en-route to the location Plymouth Police updated the Harbormaster Department that another kayaker had paddled out to help the kayakers in distress and was with them awaiting the arrival of Plymouth Police. Plymouth Harbormaster and Plymouth Fire arrived on-scene and quickly removed the two persons in the water. Both individuals were seriously frightened, but otherwise unharmed. The third kayaker paddled back to shore. The kayaks were then retrieved from the water and a large shark bite was noticed on the bottom of the kayak. Shortly thereafter, the Division of Marine Fisheries, John Chisholm, examined the bite mark and confirmed it to be from a great white shark.
The Harbormaster Department along with the Massachusetts Environmental Police will continue patrols in the area for any shark sightings. The Town of Plymouth is taking cautionary measures by posting Plymouth Long Beach, White Horse Beach, and beach areas along Stephen’s Field and Nelson Park are closed to swimmers. We are strongly advising that people do not go swimming because of this sighting and shark activity in the area. If beach patrons choose to swim, they may do so at their own risk with the understanding that if they choose to enter the water, they should do so cautiously and avoid going into the water beyond waist depth.
Our goal is to always provide safe and appropriate access to beach patrons, answer your questions or address any concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact the Harbormaster’s staff either onsite at the beach or via phone using the contact information provided herein.
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