On Sunday, September 20, 2026, people driving along Great Point Beach on Nantucket noticed a seal rush out of the water at about 10:30 a.m. Moments later, a large shark was visible at the surface feeding on another seal close to the shoreline in the Great Point/Coskata-Coatue area.
The encounter was recorded on video. Gregory Skomal, a senior fisheries scientist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, later confirmed that the animal in the footage was a white shark feeding on a seal.
Witnesses estimated the shark at roughly 12 to 14 feet long. That figure was a visual estimate, not a scientific measurement. The feeding itself occurred in shallow nearshore water used by seals as well as swimmers, surfers and waders.
| Date | September 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Great Point Beach, Nantucket |
| Species | White shark |
| Observed behavior | Feeding on a seal in shallow water |
| Human injury | None reported in this event |
| Seasonal context | White sharks remain active into fall |
Great Point has had other shark-and-seal encounters. In July 2023, several sharks attacking seals off Nantucket were initially thought to be white sharks. Researchers from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, New England Aquarium and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries later identified them as dusky sharks.
For the September 20, 2026 event, Gregory Skomal of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries reviewed the footage and confirmed the shark as a white shark.
A dorsal fin, splash or seal attack is not enough to identify a shark reliably from shore. In this case, the species identification is based on review of the video by a Massachusetts shark scientist.
| 2023 reports | Seal predation later identified as dusky sharks |
|---|---|
| Sept. 20, 2026 | White shark confirmed from video |
| Identification limit | A quick shoreline view is not always enough to identify the species |
Around Cape Cod and the Islands, these sharks often enter shallow water while hunting seals. That can bring them close to the beach even when the water is only a few feet deep.
Great Point is a long, undeveloped barrier beach at Nantucket’s northern tip. The Town of Nantucket notes that gray seals are commonly seen just offshore there. Their presence does not prove a shark is nearby, but it provides prey that can draw sharks into the nearshore zone.
Water depth is not a reliable safety boundary. Avoid entering the water near seals, even where it is only knee- or waist-deep.
Yes. White sharks can still be present around Nantucket in October. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy says September and October are typically peak months around Cape Cod, and Massachusetts shark biologist Gregory Skomal notes that white sharks move south through Nantucket waters in the fall.
Activity is not identical at every Nantucket beach, and sharks are mobile. With smaller fall crowds and less lifeguard coverage than in midsummer, water users should pay close attention to seals, beach notices and temporary closures.
For the wider Cape Cod seasonal pattern, shark flags and beach alerts, see our Cape Cod shark season guide.
The video records one event at one place and time. Sharks are mobile, so a sighting at Great Point does not predict where one will be later that day or week.
The footage documents the shark hunting a seal close to shore. Distance from dry sand alone is a poor way to judge whether sharks may be present.
In fall, some beaches have fewer visitors and less lifeguard coverage than in midsummer. Check posted notices and current staffing before entering the water.
Massachusetts expanded its shore-based shark-fishing restrictions to Nantucket on July 31, 2026 after state and local officials documented anglers targeting the species from busy public beaches near swimmers, surfers and other water users.
The emergency Nantucket rule prohibits shore anglers from using a metal or wire leader 18 inches or longer in combination with a hook gap larger than 5/8 inch. It temporarily extends a gear restriction already used around Cape Cod to reduce shore-based targeting of sharks.
State fisheries materials also describe a July 16 public-safety closure at Nobadeer Beach connected to shore-based shark fishing activity. The emergency Nantucket rules are scheduled to expire after 90 days on October 31, 2026, while officials consider longer-term changes for 2027.
The fishing rule was not a response to the September 20 seal predation. It followed separate public-safety concerns about shore-based shark fishing.
On September 20, a white shark was filmed feeding on a seal in very shallow water at Great Point Beach. A Massachusetts fisheries scientist later confirmed the shark species from the video.
No. The event shown in the video involved a white shark attacking a seal. No person was reported bitten in that incident.
Yes. White sharks can still be present around Nantucket in October. September and October are typically peak months around Cape Cod, and sharks move through Nantucket waters during their fall migration.
They move through New England coastal waters seasonally and hunt prey including gray seals. Seal-rich areas can bring sharks into shallow nearshore habitat.
No. Seals haul out for many normal reasons. Because white sharks prey on seals, avoid swimming or surfing close to groups of seals in the water.
Very close. White sharks can hunt seals in shallow water, so distance from dry sand alone is not a reliable measure of whether the water is shark-free.
Yes. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries shark scientist Gregory Skomal reviewed the footage and confirmed a white shark. Earlier seal attacks at Great Point have involved other species, including dusky sharks.
Yes. Massachusetts expanded emergency shore-based shark-fishing restrictions to Nantucket on July 31, 2026. The emergency rule restricts metal or wire leaders 18 inches or longer when paired with hooks having a gap larger than 5/8 inch, and it is scheduled to run through October 31, 2026.
Not solely because of this video. Conditions vary by beach and day. Avoid seals, follow closures and posted warnings, and check whether lifeguards are on duty.