It’s already illegal for fishermen to attract or capture a great white shark, but Bay State officials are proposing new rules to better restrict shore-based shark fishing after anglers were seen “targeting” the protected species along Cape Cod.
The white shark fishing issue came to a head last September when fishermen at a Wellfleet beach reportedly used a drone to drop bait near surfers to lure a white shark.
While this reported fishing activity violated the existing white shark rules, Massachusetts Environmental Police have had a tough time enforcing the regulations because it’s difficult to prove intent — and anglers will often claim they’re targeting other species of sharks, striped bass, or bluefish.
As a result, the state Division of Marine Fisheries is pitching more straightforward rules that would control white shark fishing to help with enforcement.
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The regulations would ban shore-based shark fishing along the Massachusetts coast where white sharks are common, prohibit chumming when conducting any shore fishing, and limit the launching of baits to normal casting when shore fishing.
These rules would be in place along the Massachusetts coastline from the New Hampshire border through Chatham, including all of Monomoy Island, except for the shores inside Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury Bays.
“There have been increasing reports of people fishing for sharks from beaches, especially along the Outer Cape,” Megan Winton of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy told the Herald. “We’re very supportive of the proposed regulations… They would be a step in the right direction.”
The waters along the South Cape and Islands, where recreational shark fishing for non-white shark species has historically occurred, are not included in the proposal.
Also, the state would exempt the shoreline inside the Three Bays system because there’s a traditional shore-based catch and release sand tiger shark fishery there.
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Back in 2015 as Cape Cod was becoming a white shark hotspot, the state enacted emergency rules to address public safety concerns. The existing state regulations restrict the ability for fishers to target white sharks, and it’s illegal to attract or capture a white shark without authorization from the DMF director.
The state agency has limited the growth of activities that would put humans in contact with white sharks — like baited cage diving — but some shore-based anglers have been targeting and landing white sharks.
“They’ll post their video on social media because there are no bigger bragging rights,” Winton said.
Then the infamous incident happened at a Wellfleet beach last September, which the Provincetown Independent brought to light. Shore-based anglers were reportedly targeting sharks and were chumming off the beach, using drones to deploy baits, and doing so among a group of surfers.
The surfers claimed to have seen surfacing white sharks while in the water, and that they were “clotheslined” by the fishing gear. The fishermen suggested the surfers were intentionally interacting with the fishing gear, and claimed they were fishing for sharks other than whites.
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“That incident put these regulations on everybody’s radar,” Winton said. “And raised this issue up the flagpole.”
The head of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission said he’s worried about the potential for shore-based shark fishing to expand.
“My concern is driven by both general interest in this animal and the substantial social media interest around shore-based shark fishing,” wrote Daniel McKiernan, director of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission. “Should this growth occur, it would substantially increase the risks to both the public and to white sharks.
“In response, DMF has developed a series of proposals that I view as being commonsense steps to make the existing regulatory framework more enforceable and constrain burgeoning fishing activities that may potentially lead to intended or unintended interactions with white sharks resulting in harm to the animal and a public safety risk,” he added. “My proposals are also informed by existing regulations in other jurisdictions with traditional shore-based shark fisheries, including New York and Florida.”
The state is proposing many other commercial and recreational fishing regulations.
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The proposed amendments include: total length measurement and commercial size limits in the striped bass fishery; catch limits for false albacore and Atlantic bonito; commercial menhaden trip limit triggers and permitting; commercial summer flounder seasonal allocations; retention of oceanic whitetip sharks; documentation to possess or sell dogfish fins; and more.
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission is expected to vote on final DMF recommendations at their business meeting next week.
Bay State shark expert Greg Skomal is seen putting an acoustic tag on a Great White shark that is swimming by near Cape Cod. (Nat Geo Wild file photo)
Good morning! We’ve got snow on tap for today, which will linger most of the day and night across southeastern Massachusetts. We’ll dry out in the early evening for most of the rest of eastern Massachusetts, with north central Massachusetts drying out the quickest.
Snow will be widespread throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. As we get to the late afternoon, snow becomes more isolated over central Massachusetts but is still hanging around the coast, southeast Mass. and the Cape and islands.
Into the evening, the snow will become ocean-enhanced over southeast Mass. and the Cape/islands.
That’s where totals will be the highest.
4 to 6 inches of snow is expected there by late Sunday night.
For the rest of us, just a chance for a few inches.
After this storm it’s all about the cold wind. Monday’s lows will drop to the teens with highs in the mid 20s. But a biting wind will make it feel only like the negative single digits in the morning and the teens in the afternoon. Bundle up! At least the sun will be out.
Tuesday is looking mostly sunny and not windy. Lows will drop to the teens with highs in the low 30s. Wednesday, breezy again with a start in the 20s and afternoon temperatures mild in the low 40s. Thursday will be downright warm! We’ll hit the upper 40s with chances for rain in the evening. Friday we’ll reach the low 50s with chances of rain in the morning. Saturday looks dry, partly sunny with highs back to near normal in the mid 30s.
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FILE – A man is using a special electric saw to cut a granite counter in a residential kitchen in preparation for installing a new range top. Getty Images
A Massachusetts man has been diagnosed with a life-altering lung disease linked to popular kitchen countertops.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed this week that its first case of silicosis had been diagnosed in a Hispanic man in his 40s who, for the past 14 years, worked for stone countertop fabrication and installation companies.
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What is silicosis?
Big picture view:
Silicosis is a serious, incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica, which is found naturally in granite and other stones. Silicosis can become progressively disabling and sometimes prove fatal. It almost always results from work-related exposures.
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Dig deeper:
Silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissue, causing inflammation and scarring and reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, according to OSHA.
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Symptoms:
Symptoms of silicosis can include shortness of breath, cough and fatigue. Workers exposed to airborne crystalline silica also are at increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease.
What they’re saying:
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“Silicosis is a devastating, life-altering disease – and one that is also absolutely preventable,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Massachusetts employers in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust have a responsibility to protect their workforce, including from harmful airborne dust. No worker should have to suffer from a chronic and insidious lung disease or possibly die because of a preventable exposure at work.”
Tanning beds could triple melanoma risk, new study finds
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Countertop disease
Big picture view:
Crystalline silica commonly occurs in nature as the mineral quartz, and is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite, various other rocks and sand. Cutting, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling and polishing these natural and manufactured stones can release various levels of crystalline silica dust particles that can be inhaled if proper protections aren’t in place.
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Dig deeper:
Engineered or manufactured stone, also commonly called quartz, is particularly problematic since it has more crystalline silica than natural stone.
By the numbers:
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For example, the average percent of crystalline silica in engineered stone is at least 90% in quartz and engineered stone, vs. a 10-45% makeup in granite, according to an OSHA hazard alert.
What you can do:
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Certain engineering controls, such as water spraying systems or remote-controlled tools, can be used to mitigate risk, as well as by wearing proper respiratory protection.
Silica cases in the U.S.
Big picture view:
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Most engineered stone workers with silicosis in the U.S. were exposed to silica at their jobs for over ten years, although some were exposed for less time.
The backstory:
The first reported case of silicosis in the U.S. associated with exposure to silica dust from engineered stone was identified in Texas in 2014, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Since then, other states have reported hundreds of cases, and dozens of deaths, particularly in California.
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Dig deeper:
In the U.S., most engineered stone workers with silicosis are relatively young, male, and Hispanic/Latino. This largely reflects the demographic composition of this industry’s workforce.
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In 2023, over half of workers in this industry were under 45 years old, nearly three-quarters were men, and more than 1 in 3 were Hispanic/Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a Dec. 9, 2025, alert from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Background information was taken from OSHA. This story was reported from Detroit.
Outdoor dining is out, and igloo dining is officially in.
While winter makes it difficult for diners to enjoy meals outside, several restaurants across Massachusetts break out heated igloos to give guests a chance to still have an outdoor dining experience.
Here’s where you can get that experience for yourself.
206 North Spencer Road
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Black & White Grille has heated igloos for outdoor dining from now until the spring of 2026. The igloos are available daily for lunch and dinner. The igloos fit up to six people, and dining is limited to an hour and 45 minutes. At least two people are required to reserve an igloo, which also comes with a $30 deposit. Reservations can be made online via OpenTable or by calling the business at 508-885-5018.
2 Mercantile St.
Worcester’s first rooftop bar has heated igloos that offer views of downtown. The igloos fit up to six people and can be reserved for up to two hours. Each one costs $50 per party and is available from 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations, which are required, can be made via OpenTable or by calling The Mercantile at 774-389-5180.
2027 Massachusetts Ave.
From November to April, the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington offers an igloo dining experience called the “INNgloo Wonderland.” The igloos fit up to six people and are available for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, Saturday High Tea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each INNgloo features a faux fireplace heater, mini speaker and twinkly lights. It costs $120 to rent. Reservations can be made online or by calling the Inn at 781-301-6655.
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160 Merrimack St.
Take in views of the Merrimack River from Haverhill’s coastal Italian restaurant, BOSA Coastal Italian. Guests can order from BOSA’s full menu while hanging out in the heated igloos, decorated with LED lights and blankets. The igloos will be open until spring. The igloos fit 6 to 8 people and can be reserved Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling BOSA at 978-641-3149.
70 Sleeper St.
Boston’s popular rooftop igloos and iceboxes are back at the Rooftop at The Envoy Hotel in Seaport. The igloos, which offer views of Boston’s harbor and skyline, can fit groups of up to six people. The heated igloos also come with blankets for extra warmth. Guests can try one of the rooftop’s seasonal cocktails, such as the Gin-gle Bell Hot Toddy or Winter Garden Spritz, as well. Reservations can be made online for two hours at a time. The phone number is 617-530-1538.
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2261 Dorchester Ave.
The Bowery Bar in Dorchester has three heated yurts on its private patio available in the winter. The yurts can be reserved for lunch Monday through Friday, for dinner any day of the week and for brunch on weekends. Depending on the experience, the yurts have a food and beverage minimum of $100, $150 or $200 for a two-hour booking. Reservations can be made online, and any changes should be made by calling The Bowery Bar at 617-698-2261.
973 Providence Highway
Mick Morgan’s in Sharon has eight igloos available during the winter. The restaurant does not take reservations, so all igloos are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The igloos can fit six people and have no time limit. People can call Mick Morgans at 781-806-0066 for more information.
260 W Water St.
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The igloos at Riverhouse Weir Village in Taunton have returned for the winter season, along with the restaurants’ popular Igloo Gingerbread Nights. The igloos fit up to eight people and cost $50 to reserve. Reservations must be made by calling the restaurant at 774-501-2003.
75 Ferry St.
For $5 a person, you can reserve an igloo at The Tipsy Toboggan in Fall River. The restaurant offers igloos for 5 to 8 people and an igloo cabin with tables for up to 4 people. The winter garden can be booked for brunch, lunch or dinner. Reservations last up to two hours and can be made online. The phone number is 508-567-0550.
Did we miss any? Please let us know at dcifarelli@masslive.com.
