LITTLE COMPTON, R.I. (WHDH) -- A 14-foot great white shark was found dead on a beach in Westport Saturday.

Sharks have been coming closer and closer to shore and one has finally landed on the sand.

The male shark was found dead on the rocks at Goosewing Beach in Rhode Island. Massachusetts marine biologists dissected the shark on the beach and are trying to determine exactly when and how the shark died.

Dozens of beachgoers gathered to look on as the team of scientists worked.

The scientists said it isn’t unprecedented for the sharks to come up on land in that area.

“We’ve had it happen, on average, once every couple years. Generally smaller white sharks and usually it’s a result of some kind of interaction with fishing gear and fishermen aren’t allowed to keep them so they have to throw them overboard and they end up washing ashore,” said Greg Skomel, a shark scientist.

The beaches were closed after the shark was found washed ashore. But, the holiday beachgoers said after seeing the shark, they are happy enough to stay on land for now.