The Associated Press is reporting that the island where Jaws was filmed got a real-life shark scare when two beaches were closed on Thursday, July 10, 2008, due to an unconfirmed sighting of a great white shark nearby.

A spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation said state-run South Beach was closed for a time Thursday after the Coast Guard received reports of the shark sighting. Swimmers were also kept out of the water at State Beach in Edgartown.

A plane was sent up to try to confirm the sighting.

In 1974, Steven Spielberg chose Martha’s Vineyard for the movie version of Jaws, depicting a series of deadly great white attacks in the fictional community of Amity.

Shark attacks are extremely rare in waters off New England, but great whites have been known to occasionally prowl in the region.

Meanwhile, half a world away, on July 9, 2008, Australia media was talking about a great white caught in a lake.

An estimated seven-meter (21 ft) long great white shark got netted in waters at a popular school holiday spot at NSW’s Tuggerah Lake.

The fisherman reported snaring the huge shark in nets he had cast off Canton Beach, at the northern end of the lake about 5.30am on July 9th.

He claimed that he actually caught the shark in his net and the shark came up and started thrashing about, and hit his boat. He said it was bigger than his boat – he’s got an 18-foot boat and he said it would have been about 21 feet. Tuggerah Lakes is only about 12 kilometres long and five kilometres wide. It’s not a big lake but it’s a bloody big shark, if it’s true.’ ~ said Chief Inspector Tim Winmill.

The shark was last seen heading south towards the middle of the lake, Chief Inspector Winmill said.

Mick Crowe, president of nearby Soldiers Beach Surf Club, expressed surprise there had been reports of a shark in the lake.

“That’s quite bizarre if that’s the case – Canton Beach is only ankle-deep water for the first 150 metres,” he said.

But the Department of Primary Industries and the Fisheries Department both believed the fisherman’s claims, Chief Inspector Winmill said.

They believe he’s a credible witness, he’s been a commercial fisherman for a long time, he’s well aware of species of sharks. They don’t have any reason to doubt the truthfulness of his allegation.Chief Inspector Winmill

The fisherman would not speak publicly about his encounter with the great white.

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