Coast Guard gets all Chief Brody on us

Sure, the chances of you being gobbled by a great white shark are incredibly low, but don't be stupid out there, the Coast Guard says, in a holiday weekend shark advisory for the waters off Massachusetts:

"Predation is not generally a concern for boaters and paddlers in Northeast waters," said Al Johnson, the First Coast Guard District's recreational boating specialist, "but I have no doubt that a great white shark that swims into your comfort zone would surely find a splashing paddle or dangling hand inviting. I also expect that same passing shark would spend little time differentiating between boater, paddler and prey."

While shark attacks on humans in the Northeast are rare and there have been no recent sightings along coastal beaches, sharks are attracted to the area by the growing seal population. Johnson advises boaters and paddlers to avoid passing pods or springs of seals and avoid seal colonies and other areas where pinnipeds bask.