Popular North Shore beach closed amid reported shark sighting

Gloucester officials closed off swimming at a popular beach Friday following a report of a shark sighting.

This was the second shark warning at Good Harbor Beach this week.

“Please stay out of the water until further notice and follow lifeguard instructions,” officials advised in a post on Gloucester Beaches, a Facebook page managed by the city.

Officials initially closed the beloved spot – often ranked among the best in Massachusetts – around noon Thursday while the Harbormaster investigated a report of a sighting, but reopened it just after 3 p.m. due to no further observed shark activity.

Thursday’s initial advisory also came just one day after officials warned of a strong surf and rip currents expected this weekend.

“Starting as early as Thursday, August 21st through the weekend—we’re expecting high surf and strong rip currents, with lingering effects into early next week,” officials noted in a Facebook post.

Shark sightings are not new to beaches around the North Shore, Massachusetts, or New England. Local coastal communities have increasingly put more resources into monitoring shark activity.

Crane Beach in Ipswich, for example, announced a plan last month to ramp up safety and operation protocols. The plan included its intention to install at least one shark detection buoy in the area where sharks were spotted last fall. The sightings prompted officials to close off the water to swimming for over a month.

This week, a great white shark sighting prompted officials to raise a yellow flag at a beach in Ogunquit, Maine.

On Tuesday morning, Ogunquit fire officials said they received a credible report of a 6- to 8-foot-long shark roughly 200 yards off Little Beach. They raised the yellow flag out of an abundance of caution, reminding beachgoers to be aware of their surroundings.

“This is a reminder that our ocean is the natural home of sharks,” officials noted in the Facebook post. “We want the public to be aware of today’s sighting, and we are actively monitoring the area for any additional activity.

“Please use caution, follow posted advisories, and check in with lifeguards if you have any questions,” the fire department continued.

The Ogunquit sighting comes about a week after drone footage captured a 10- to 12-foot-long great white shark swimming off Richmond Island in Maine.