Community Corner

Species Spotlight: Blue Shark

Tony Lacasse of the New England Aquarium tells us about the blue shark, no stranger to North Shore waters.

A video posted Tuesday on Marblehead Patch showed a shark swimming the shallows at Phillips Park in Swampscott on Monday.

We asked you and Swampscott Patch readers what kind of shark it was and several of you answered correctly — a blue shark.

Tony Lacasse, media relations director for the New England Aquarium, watched the video and confirmed it was a blue shark.

The director said they are by far the most common large shark in these parts during late summer. They are migratory and chase schooling herring, mackeral, blue fish and striped bass.

Some blue shark get really big. They are commonly five to seven feet long but can grow much larger.

Two years ago off Gloucester, a Massachusetts teen caught a 12-foot, 458-pound blue shark.

And two years ago, in September, a big blue shark — 8 feet, 250 to 275 pounds washed ashore near the Nahant/Lynn line, the director said.

Blue shark are a timid species but they have been implicated in a few attacks involving people around the world.

If you see a dorsal fin you need to get out of the water, evacuate the beach, experts advise.

Three weeks ago, Wallis Sands Beach in Rye New Hampshire closed for the afternoon after a spotting of what was believed to be a blue shark, Lacasse said.

The upper body of a blue shark is gray with a bluish hue, Tony Lacasse said.They are thin with a pointed snout and swim fast and in irregular patterns.
There has not been a fatal shark attack in New England since 1936 – over 75 years. 


Here are your comments in response to yesteday's question, asking you to ID the shark in the video:


Mark Parkinson September 03, 2013 at 03:04 PMIt is a Blue Shark. Very common shark to Massachusetts and New England waters. More of a deep water shark, but not unheard of for them to come in close to shore. Some of the largest Blue Sharks in the world swim in our waters.
kris flannery September 03, 2013 at 04:26 PMBaby blue shark my dad deep water fished all the time and caught them and I was a biology major in college def blue shark prob swam in to close and for lost
Clarence "Screaming Buffalo" Swamptown September 03, 2013 at 07:35 AMDavid, you're hilarious. Actually, it looks like a small Blue Shark (Prionace glauca). I'm no expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here