Shark Sighting Briefly Clears Water At Charlestown Beach

CHARLESTOWN, RI — A shark sighting briefly cleared the water at East Beach in Charlestown Saturday, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said. The six-foot juvenile thresher shark closed the water to swimming for about an hour.

DEM protocols require water evacuations for an hour after suspected or confirmed shark fin sightings, which allows marine biologists and environmental police to investigate the sighting.

"We take our responsibility to protect the health and safety of visitors to state beaches very seriously and it requires a high level of cooperation at team DEM," the department said. "State beach lifeguards, beach managers, Division of Marine Fisheries biologists and Environmental Police Officers work in tandem to allow a swift response for public safety."

Thresher sharks are named for their long, "scythe-like" tail, which they use to stun fish before preying on them, the DEM said. They are some of the most common sharks seen off the coast of Rhode Island.