Shark Spotted Off Nahant Beach Sparks DCR Warning

NAHANT, MA — A shark warning on the North Shore was issued on Monday afternoon after a shark was spotted off Nahant Beach Reservation in Nahant.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation issued the warning to beachgoers that "Purple Flags" had been posted.

"But we urge caution as lifeguard services have concluded for the season," DCR officials said at about 4 p.m.

While shark sightings have become commonplace off Cape Cod and up through the South Shore in recent years it remains unusual for a flag warning to occur north of Boston.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and
Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)