At least five swimmers were bitten by sharks in Long Island waters over the Fourth of July weekend. New York had boosted its shark monitoring efforts after a surge in bites and sightings last summer.
The first confirmed shark bites of 2023 occurred on Monday in waters off Kismet, and Tuesday at Fire Island Pines Beach.
Three more swimmers sustained possible shark bites at Robert Moses State Park on Monday and Tuesday, and Quogue Village Beach on Tuesday. None of the encounters were life-threatening.
Wildlife officials say sharks are swimming closer to Long Island shores because of record numbers of bunker fish in recent years.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says while these encounters are becoming more frequent, getting bitten by a shark is very rare.
“You’re much more likely to drown and be injured from a rip current than you are from a shark or a shark bite.”
The recent state budget included funding for 10 additional drones, one of which has infrared thermal imaging to better locate the sharks and the ability to drop a flotation device.
Robert Moses had a delayed opening on Tuesday after about 50 sand sharks were spotted by park officials using drones.
Blakeman says beach-goers shouldn’t be afraid to go swimming with more eyes on the water.
“We have drones in the air, we have helicopters in the air, we’ve got police marine boats out on the waters, and all-terrain vehicles riding up and down the beach.”
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced similar safety measures, including wave runner patrols and drone training for lifeguards.
Long Island's so-called "shark season" will peak closer to Nassau in July, and further out east in September.
