Great white sharks have been spotted at three Cape Cod beaches.

The Cape Cod Times reports that three beaches were briefly closed Saturday after confirmed sightings of great white sharks.

Police and fire authorities say the sharks were seen by the Head of the Meadow Beach and Coast Guard Beach in Truro and at Nauset Beach in Orleans. Each beach was closed to swimming for an hour.

Researchers on Cape Cod launched a new study last month focused on the hunting and feeding habits of the region's great white sharks following last year's two attacks on humans, including the state's first fatal one in more than 80 years.

They hope the work contributes critical information to the ongoing debate over how to keep Cape beachgoers safe.