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National GeographicOver the past few years, fishermen off Cape Cod in Massachusetts have noticed fish being reeled out of the water with bite-shaped chunks missing or, in some cases, just their heads remain. The reason why has now been caught on camera for the first time by National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry: the great white sharks are back. Known as depredation, this behavior is usually seen from above the water’s surface. By working with local charter boat captains and using a custom designed camera set-up that ensured the fishing lure stayed in the camera's frame, Skerry was able to see what this looks like underwater. Depredation is a sign that great whites are returning to these waters after nearly being driven to extinction, shark conservationists worry the behavior could drive a new outbreak of human-shark conflict. Learn more about this rarely seen shark behavior and what it could mean for sharks and fishermen at the 🔗 in bio.
On the profile · Oct 2, 2026