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Crane Beach prepares for potential shark sightings
“The safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority,” Trustees Property Director Chris Moore said.
A drop in ocean temperature last fall brought bait, and juvenile great white sharks, close to Crane Beach’s shore. Now, the Ipswich beach is introducing precautionary measures to protect beachgoers.
“We have worked diligently in preparation for the summer beach season with local public safety officials, marine biologists, and state wildlife officials to put in place staff training and several safety protocols in the event sharks return to Crane Beach this year,” said Chris Moore, Crane Beach trustees property director.
Crane Beach will install a shark detection buoy where sharks were sighted last year, which led to a water closure for over a month.
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Frontline staff, rangers, and EMTs will undergo “consistent” safety training to ensure “the safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority,” Moore said in a press release.
In addition to lifeguards monitoring the swimming area, the Ipswich harbormaster, who enforces the rules of the beach, will survey the swimming areas during the summer.
If there is a suspected shark sighting, visitors will be asked to vacate the swimming area until the sighting is confirmed or not. In the case of a confirmed shark sighting, the water will be closed and will reopen when authorities determine it is safe to do so.
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The North Shore beach is collaborating with Massachusetts Shark Research Project Marine Biologist Greg Skomal to share any shark-related information collected this summer. Skomal, who worked with Crane Beach last year, said great white sightings off the East Coast are “to be expected.”
Any updates to safety, parking, or greenheads will be announced on the Crane Beach voicemail at 978-356-4354.
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