6-foot shark beached in Revere identified as porbeagle

REVERE, Mass. — A porbeagle shark that got stranded on the beach in Revere Friday has died.

The shark was first spotted around 9:30 a.m., as the tide receded from Pines River. Wildlife officials left it there until the tide comes back in and washes the body away.

A release from the New England Aquarium says the shark is 6.5 feet long and weighs an estimated 200 pounds. Fully grown porbeagles can reach 10 feet long.

This shark type was common around Cape Cod in the 60s, but their population was greatly diminished by fishing in the ensuing decades.

Experts tell Boston 25 News porbeagles are common in the region, but not at this time of the year. Many at the beach said they never expected to see a shark in the area.

“Just a couple of weeks ago we were in our rafts and my father made a joke ‘hey, you're out in shark territory.’ and I was like,’ yeah dad, sure,’” Sandra Jewkes said.

Porbeagles feed exclusively on squid and fish, the aquarium said, not mammals like seals and humans.

TOP STORIES:

Cox Media Group