Back in the water: Beachgoers return to Nova Scotia beach one day after fin sighting

Shark sightings are rare, but beachgoers are still encouraged to be shark smart.

The crowds were back at Queensland Beach Thursday, one day after a fin sighting closed the swimming area for two hours around noon.

“It would come out of the water approximately two feet,” says Grant Wilkinson, referring to the fin.

The Ontario resident spends summers in Nova Scotia and frequents the beach. He says the creature swam the length of the beach and, as it did, lifeguards told people to come to shore.

“Everyone quickly got out of the water and then they all stood up and of course everyone wants to see the sighting. Very few people went in the water after that,” says Wilkinson.

Paul d’Eon, the director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, can’t confirm the fin belonged to a shark, but provincial protocol is to close the beach for safety reasons.

“I was kind of half expecting this was going to happen fairly soon, this is the time of year,” says d’Eon.

If it was a shark, d’Eon says attacks are extremely rare.

“In the 53 years we’ve been open, there has never been a shark attack in a supervised area,” he says.

Even though attacks are unusual, sightings are increasing according to shark expert Neil Hammerschlag.

“Sharks were heavily overfished in the 80s and 90s and since then there’s been protection that seems to be working and we’re seeing rebounding populations.”

The most common species in our waters are Blues, Short Fin Makos, Basking Sharks, Threshers and Great Whites.

Hammerschlag recommends people be safe in the water and avoid areas with seals, not wear reflective jewellery, or swim where someone is fishing.

“People should go and enjoy the beach and go swimming but if they see a shark, I think it’s prudent to get out of the water for a while and definitely not go swimming where are sharks are being repeatedly seen,” says Hammerschlag.

“You should be proud that sharks are here and happy because it’s a sign of a healthy ecosystem and sharks help control and keep balance in the ocean and keep it healthy.”

That’s the approach many were taking today as the sunshine drew people back to the beach and the surf.

“I’m going to try to stay closer to the sand and less out,” says Molly David.

“It’s a little scary, but I’m still going to let them go in,” says beachgoer Sara Whitney referring to her children. “Their dad was a little hesitant on them even going in the ocean at all because of sharks and he’ll probably be upset.”

d’Eon says the potential shark sighting was the first this season at any of the province’s 21 ocean beaches. Last year there were three or four sightings of fins over the summer.

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