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The authorities in Suffolk County reported that they responded to three shark incidents off Fire Island over the course of two days this week.
Officials on Long Island have increased shark patrols in response to several reports of people being bitten by sharks in separate locations around the 4th of July holiday.
A.ccording to the Suffolk County Police Department, two individuals were bitten off the coast of Fire Island on Tuesday afternoon. The authorities reported that a shark attacked a man’s right hand while he was swimming in the ocean near Fire Island Pines. Later, several hours afterwards, a lady was bitten on her upper thigh while swimming to the west of Cherry Grove.
Both people were taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where they were given medical care for non-life-threatening injuries.
He was taken to the University Hospital in Islip West and was treated by Samaritan Good.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation issued a statement stating that a teenage girl, aged 15, received treatment from emergency medical personnel at Robert Moses State Park for three minor puncture wounds on her left leg. However, it remains unclear which sea creatures were responsible for the bites. Moreover, this incident took place on Monday.
The Suffolk County police stated that the marine bureau and aviation sector of the police force would be responsible for carrying out heightened beach patrols. During a press conference on Thursday, Suffolk County’s county executive, Steven Bellone, revealed the county’s plan to purchase two additional drones for the purpose of surveying marine life. Moreover, lifeguards will undergo training to operate these drones.
The encounters came after similar ones last year forced lifesaving departments on Long Island to take shark sightings and interactions more seriously.
Mr. Bellone expressed, “This indicates that last summer was not an anomaly.” “We will need to handle shark bites and shark occurrences more frequently, which,” he added.
The opening of Moses Robert State Park was delayed on Tuesday morning by more than an hour, as initially described by an official from the state parks agency. Later, it was determined that the animals seen in the drone footage were likely another species of fish, possibly “sand sharks,” with about 50 of them in total. The agency stated on Thursday that the determination was made.
A.ccording to Tobey Curtis, a shark specialist from the National Oceanic and A.tmospheric A.dministration, it is not uncommon to find sharks in the waters near the coast of New York. He mentioned that there has been an “unforeseen increase in shark attacks on individuals” in that area during the previous two years, stating that prior to last summer, such incidents were infrequent.
A.ccording to him, the outcome leads to a heightened chance of shark interactions. The numbers of certain shark breeds have expanded along the A.tlantic Coast, and the smaller marine creatures they prey on have been moving nearer to the popular beaches of Long Island. The water condition surrounding New York State has progressed in the past twenty years, and an increasing number of individuals are frequenting beaches due to the hotter summers. He mentioned that multiple factors are in action.
Mr. Curtis mentioned that swimming for sharks indicates the presence of fish schools or dolphins and seabirds because they source their food from there. He suggests that people should examine the water conditions before swimming, especially when lifeguards are present at beaches. Experts do not recommend swimming at dusk or dawn when predators are most active, in order to ensure safety.
He stated, “If you venture into that group of fish for a swim, you’re essentially becoming a part of the natural order.” He further mentioned that sharks generally do not have a particular inclination towards biting humans, but there is a possibility of accidental encounters. In such cases, individuals should assertively defend themselves by striking the shark’s nose or eyes.
The likelihood of being bitten by a shark remains low. There were 57 unprovoked bites globally in 2022. A.ccording to the scientific database maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, there were 41 shark attacks recorded, including one fatal encounter. There were eight nonfatal incidents in the United States. The same number of nonfatal incidents also occurred in New York.
Curtis stated that there are many sharks closer to three or four feet in length, which is longer than most sharks in comparison. Sharks over ten feet are typically recorded by NOA.A., and there is also an increase in sightings of great white sharks in Massachusetts, specifically near Cape Cod. Unlike in other coastal areas, it is common for juvenile sharks to swim near New York.
He said, “You can leave a nasty bite from an animal that can take off a limb. However, they’re not the type of animal that is sizable, but they’re still fish.”
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