Massachusetts beach that had swimming ban due to ‘persistent’ shark sightings adding ‘several safety measures’

A North Shore beach that had a swimming ban last year due to “persistent” shark sightings has added “several safety measures” this summer. Ipswich’s Crane Beach, which was shut down to swimming for several weeks due to white shark sightings last fall, is stepping up its public safety in the wake of that lengthy closure. “Due to the presence of juvenile Great White Sharks last fall in the waters off Crane Beach, we will be introducing several safety measures focused on the safety of our visitors and staff this summer,” the Trustees of Reservations wrote. “We will do our best to monitor marked swim zones,” the Trustees added. “The Crane Public Safety Team has worked extensively with Ipswich public safety officials, outside agencies and marine biology professionals to develop and implement enhanced safety training and beach operation protocols.” The Ipswich Harbormaster will perform daily patrols of the Crane Beach Swim Zone during the summer season. Also, Crane Beach lifeguards will regularly monitor the swim zones from their elevated lifeguard chairs and with watercraft. Crane Beach staff, along with Ipswich Police Department and marine biologists, were installing at least one shark detection buoy where sharks were spotted last year. “Crane Beach lifeguards, EMTs, rangers and frontline staff will receive consistent safety and operational training to ensure visitor and staff safety remains our top priority,” the Trustees wrote. If a shark is spotted at Crane Beach, the Trustees will immediately report the sighting to the Ipswich Police Department, and they will launch an emergency response. Visitors will be asked to get out of the water until public safety personnel can determine if a shark is present. Confirmed sightings will trigger a water closure. “During the water closure, the Trustees, working with guidance from Ipswich public safety officials, will thoroughly patrol the swim zone and determine eligibility for reopening,” the Trustees wrote. Last fall, an oceanic upwelling event dropped the water temp more than 10 degrees. This pushed menhaden, mackerel and other small fish to the shore side of the sandbars and close to the Crane Beach shoreline — which attracted striped bass, bluefish, and small tuna. All of these fish ended up attracting the juvenile white sharks to Crane Beach, leading to the lengthy swimming ban. Related Articles Shark bites fisherman on Massachusetts beach: ‘A wake-up call’ Massachusetts whale watch is on a heater seeing white sharks: ‘Something unprecedented is happening out there’ Sharks chomping on seals off Massachusetts, feasting on dead whale off Long Island Cape Cod National Seashore moving to fully cashless system, shark researchers urge beachgoers to be ‘Shark Smart’ Cape Cod shark detections: Where are the top hotspots for white sharks? A North Shore whale watch has been spotting great white sharks so far this season. The 7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester reported that they’re seeing more and more great white sharks in the northern waters. White sharks migrate north to Cape Cod and the Islands every summer and fall, looking to chomp on seals. The sharks have expanded their migration northward all the way to Maine and Canada.