Officials warn of great white sharks in Cape Cod ahead of 4th of July

At least two shark attacks on seals have been documented in recent days, local reports say

Officials are reminding visitors ahead of the 4 July that the Cape Cod remains a popular getaway for great white sharks (AP)

Cape Cod has issued a warning to beachgoers that great white sharks are coming close enough to shore to pose a concern for swimmers in the area.

The Cape's National Seashore Chief Ranger Leslie Reynolds warned that visitors should be aware of the threat at a news conference ahead of 4 July weekend.

At least two shark attacks on seals have been documented in recent days in Orleans, officials have said according to The Cape Cod Times.

While the beaches and towns are seeing fewer visitors due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the upcoming Independence Day weekend could be set to draw tourists to the beaches.

Officials have recommended swimmers remain in waist deep water where possible and avoid areas where sharks have been previously spotted.

The National Park Service (NPS) also advises beachgoers to stay close to shore and remain in groups and splashing in the water.

Great white shark numbers have increased on the Cape because of a growing seal population that rebounded after being hunted to near extinction, according to the NPS.

Most sharks tend to favour the Atlantic Ocean-facing beaches where seals tend to congregate, but researchers have found them off nearly every part of the Cape.

Gregory Skomal, a prominent shark scientist with the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has said he spotted three great whites circling a whale carcass earlier this month during his research.

The peninsula southeast of Boston saw two shark attacks on humans in 2018, one of them fatal.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.