A Long Island beach was closed yesterday due to multiple shark sightings. According to a CBS 2 report, a “pack of 18-foot sharks” was sighted “dangerously close” to the shore of a West Hamptons Dunes beach. While the report notes that some of the eyewitnesses thought the sharks were thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus), the dorsal and caudal fins in the video do not appear to be consistent with that of common thresher sharks.

While I’m no expert on shark identification, the dorsal fin seen in the video looks more representative of a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) to me. If anybody can identify the sharks based on the footage, feel free to share your insight in the comments section.

On a related note, CBS 2 also reports that a seal carcass was found on the beach this morning. A connection between the seal carcass and the sharks is being investigated. (Basking sharks are filter feeders and don’t eat or attack seals.)