People are not allowed to swim at Crane Beach in Ipswich through the end of September due to the number of sharks.
“After consulting with the Ipswich Harbormaster and marine biologist Greg Skomal this morning, The Trustees is extending the swimming closure for Crane Beach through Monday, Sept. 30,” the Trustees wrote on X. “Visitor safety is our top priority.”
Sharktivity, the shark-tracking app run by the the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, reported six sharks in the area last week.
“It’s peak white shark season throughout [Massachusetts], not just on Cape Cod,” adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium John Chisholm wrote on X. “Please be #SharkSmart and review shark safety guidelines before entering the water.”
Shark sightings leaped in 2023 between July and August, from 17,073 detections to 29,837, according to the conservancy’s numbers. After a slight drop in September with around 25,559 detections, October 2023 saw the highest number of detections all year with 40,322.
Although swimming is not allowed, the beach remains open for walking, hiking or other recreation.
