James Sulikowski interviewed on two shark sightings off Maine coast
James Sulikowski, Ph.D., associate professor of marine science, was interviewed for media stories on shark sightings this week.
On Friday, August 2, Sulikowksi was interviewed by the after he viewed a video taken on Tuesday of a shark sighting off Boothbay harbor.
Sulikowski identified the animal as a white shark, saying he based his identification on the size of the fins, the size of the head and the way the shark was feeding on a whale carcass.
The warming of waters in the Gulf of Maine has led to more shark activity earlier in the year as they chase food moving closer to the coast, Sulikowski said.
Seals are a primary food source for white sharks and are cited as the reason white sharks have been congregating around Chatham, Mass., on Cape Cod, he said.
Great white shark attacks on humans are extremely rare, he said. "You have a much greater chance of dying by getting hit by a toilet seat in a freak accident, struck by lightning, you name it, than being attacked and eaten by a shark," he said.
Sulikowski was also interviewed for an Aug. 1st WMTW8 story on a possible Wells, Maine shark sighting.
A on the Boothbay Harbor shark sighting includes a photo of a seal, dubbed Charleston Chew that is being cared for at the University of 51小黄车 Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center after encountering sharks.