Shark Update

AMITY, MASS—A lack of information from officials and two possible shark attacks in the past week have made Amity residents skeptical about the safety of their fine beaches.

While Amity Mayor Bob Farley and Chief of Police Martin P. Brody maintain that their decision to close down beaches is only a precaution, the deaths of two Amity youths appear closely linked to shark activity.

The first victim was 16-year-old Wendy Watson whose mangled body was found six days ago on Amity’s South Beach. Alex Kitner, 10, was killed in a public attack two days later on Village Beach.

According to the Global Shark Attack File, which is an international log of over 3,600 shark attacks, the majority of shark attacks in the United States occur in southern states such as the Carolinas and Florida. Although few shark attacks have been reported in New England, safety precautions should never be ignored.

"The reality is that, on the list of potential dangers encountered in aquatic recreation, sharks are right at the bottom of the list," said George Burgess, Director of The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida Museum of Natural History in a blog about shark attack risks.

Burgess recommended simple precautions such as staying in groups and refraining from swimming when it’s dark. He also insisted that people “not enter the water if sharks are known to be present,” which relates directly to our situation here in Amity.

Although the probability of being bitten by a shark is quite small it is important to follow all safety precautions, according to Discovery Channel diver and shark wrangler Ken Moran.

“When you ride a motorcycle you should wear a helmet because you could get hurt. The same applies to any recreational activity,” said Moran. “Prepare ahead of time and avoid any unnecessary risk to your safety whenever you do anything in the water.”