National Geographic Photographer Brian Skerry Films First Great White Shark Depredation Off Cape Cod

Brian Skerry, a National Geographic photographer, captured the first known footage of a great white shark taking a fish from a fishing line, a behavior called depredation. The event occurred off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on June 29, when a juvenile female shark appeared suddenly through murky water and seized a hooked fish. Skerry spent several days filming this summer with local charter boat captains after fishermen reported increasing attacks on their catches. Captain Hap Farrell, who has witnessed the trend grow over the past three years, described sharks approaching within four or five feet of boats to chase the remaining fish, often leaving only heads. Skerry, who has logged more than 10,000 hours underwater, noted that the shark grabbed the fish from the side, seemingly avoiding the lure to prevent getting hooked. He received real-time updates about depredation, which is typically observed from above the surface. His goal was to show that Cape Cod and the Gulf of Maine support a healthy, recovering population of large predatory sharks, especially great whites. While this poses concerns for beachgoers, Skerry views it as beneficial for the ocean and the planet. The rise in great whites is linked to the large gray seal population on Cape Cod; once hunted, seals now number in the tens of thousands, providing ample food. However, conservationists worry that more sharks could harm fishermen's businesses and create conflict.