False Alarm: Rhode Island 'Shark' Believed To Be Ocean Sunfish

WESTERLY, RI — A southern Rhode Island beach was briefly closed to swimming early Friday morning, but this time it wasn't high bacteria levels that kept beachgoers out of the water. What was at first believed to be the dorsal fin of a mako shark was spotted in the water off of Misquamicut beach Friday morning. Later that afternoon, the Department of Environmental Management said the fin more likely belonged to an ocean sunfish.

The fin was spotted in the water around 9:45 a.m. about 50 yards from shore, prompting the beach manager to clear the water of swimmers. A second fin was seen farther out around 10:30 a.m. The all-clear was issued for swimming by 11:30 a.m.

On Friday afternoon, DEM officials said the fin was now thought to belong to another large sea creature: an ocean sunfish.

According to Michael Healey, the chief public affairs officer at the DEM, said the fin was though to belong to a shark based on the photo above, which was taken through binoculars. However, video taken of the fin shows the dorsal fin moving, which is more indicative of a sunfish than a shark. Healey said, as shark fins are stationary.

"There are many different species of sharks traveling through Rhode Island waters at any given time," Healey said, adding that mako sharks are frequently caught by commercial fisherman at the Port of Galilee in Narragansett. "Soon, we hope to strengthen our shark safety protocol by deploying video drones at state beaches to aid in the dissemination of rapid — and accurate — identifying information."

Shark sightings are becoming common in New England, with beaches in Cape Cod and the islands closed due to sightings.