Cape Cod National Seashore will hold its seventh Science Symposium at Salt Pond Visitor Center. A diverse group of scientists and scholars will share brief and engaging presentations on a wide range of topics, including seals, roseate
terns, cranberry
bog microbes, dragonflies, blue carbon and horseshoe crabs.
If you are interested in the latest scientific research being conducted at the Seashore, you won't want to miss this Friends sponsored event, Thursday, September 14th from 1:00 - 4:45PM.
Province Lands Visitor Center
Gets a Makeover
Province Lands Visitor Center exhibits will be refurbished after closing October 15. New exhibits will be aligned with the interests of current visitors, including topics such as how dunes form, what lives in the Province Lands both on land and in the ocean, and the history of shipwrecks and lifesaving services.
Displays will include audio descriptions, more tactile, hands on elements, and all will be accessible. The Park hopes to have the project completed by the opening on April 15, 2018.
Great White Sharks
in Cape Cod's Waters
The presence of white sharks in Cape Cod waters creates a unique opportunity for research. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is completing year four of a five-year population study, funded by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
Between 2014 and 2016, 258 white sharks have been identified off the coast of Cape Cod and over 100 have been tagged. The population growth of white sharks off our shores is attributed to the abundance of their primary food source, the gray seal. White sharks are now protected by federal and state law.
Cape Cod National Seashore, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, MA Marine Fisheries and Cape Cod towns work together to educate the public on how to be shark smart.
During the summer months, a purple flag with a silhouette of a white shark is flown at six life-guarded national seashore beaches to alert visitors to the presence of sharks.
Caution signs, shark safety rack cards and a shark safety video have been developed and provide important safety tips such as stay away from seals, stay close to shore, swim, kayak, stand up paddle board and surf in groups, and avoid isolation.
A shark sighting app called Sharktivity has been created to engage the public to track observed sharks from officials and beach goers.
As top predators, white sharks are critical for maintaining a healthy and balanced marine ecosystem. The ongoing research is helping to build our understanding of sharks and the need to protect them.
Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore (FCCNS) is the not-for-profit fundraising partner of the Cape Cod National Seashore; a partnership established in 1987 to help preserve, protect and enhance the fragile environment and unique cultural heritage of the Park. By leveraging existing federal support with additional private philanthropy, FCCNS engages members, donors and visitors alike in the shared values of cultural appreciation, environmental stewardship and historical preservation.