A Great White Shark Was Spotted Near Scituate

Big day out on the water #whiteshark #greatwhitw pic.twitter.com/vh9XOVDaIx

— Kyle Osborne (@Kyle_Osborne18) June 26, 2017

Photos surfaced this weekend of a great white not far from shore in Scituate, among the first of many visits of the season captured by a boater and amateur shark observer.

A series of pictures by Cohasset’s Kyle and Maria Osborne and shared with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy show one of the predators swimming about 200 yards away from the offshore Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse.

Thanks to the shark-reporting app Sharktivity, which can be used to document sightings, the encounter has provided some useful data for shark researchers. The Conservancy was able to confirm the sighting thanks to the info. And the photographers earned plaudits from one shark-focused twitter account, who said it was a “great example of a citizen scientist.”

Want to be a citizen scientist yourself, or at least stay updated on sharks spotted near the beach? You can learn more on the nonprofit’s website.

The area in the ocean from Scituate to Plymouth is being monitored by 11 shark-detecting buoys this year, and Marshfield Harbormaster Mike DiMeo says he’s expecting the number of sightings to go up this summer.

Thanks to @Kyle_Osborne18 He’s a great example of a citizen scientist. Got pics & accurate info to help confirm white shark off Minot today. pic.twitter.com/2H4WcaiinJ

— MA Sharks (@MA_Sharks) June 26, 2017