LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — With Memorial Day marking the official start of summer on Long Island, Governor Kathy Hockle recently outlined measures the state is taking to protect beachgoers from shark bites.
Regarding the shark attacks reported on Long Island in recent years, Hawkle said he interviewed a marine lifeguard who has been patrolling Long Island's waters for 20 years.
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“I said, 'So what about the sharks?' I'm always curious, and I'm pretty forthright. And she said, 'Well, the sharks live here too, and they're more afraid of us than we are of them.'”
But Hawkle said: “We want to do anything to reduce the chances of a shark attack, so we're deploying drones again this time. We were able to fly a drone off the back of our boat last year to see how it works. The drone sends real-time images of what's underwater to the lifeguards.”
Hawkle said five new drones will be added to the existing fleet of 17 this season, bringing the total to 22.
“We plan to train 11 more pilots, so by this summer we will have over 40 people trained on how to operate drones. They will help park employees find sharks so they can stay out of trouble.”
Hawkle added that state park police will be introducing larger drones with thermal imaging capabilities, laser distance measurement and the ability to fly in bad weather and drop flotation devices.
“We use technology,” Hoekl said, “so we can coexist, but we're constantly monitoring. We're constantly watching what's going on underwater.”
There have been numerous reported shark bites on Long Island in recent years, including five in two days in Suffolk in 2023 (one in Quogue and multiple in Fire Island and Robert Moses State Parks) and a lifeguard being bitten by a shark in 202. Experts spoke to Patch about what could be causing the increase.
In a past interview in 2023, Paige Finney, communications specialist for Oceanarch, said the nonprofit's science team was “skeptical” that the bites and encounters in the Long Island area were caused by juvenile great whites.
Oceanarch founder Chris Fisher has long argued that sharks are “the great keepers of balance,” and the fact that shark numbers have boomed in recent years since the discovery of great white shark nurseries off the coast of Montauk suggests water quality is improving.
But Finney said the recent bites likely weren't caused by the Montauk great white shark farm. “The bites were likely caused by juvenile sand tiger sharks or reef sharks, so they're not related to great white shark farms, but perhaps from coastal farms of other species,” Finney said.
She adds: “Several species of juvenile sharks are present in the Mid-Atlantic at this time of year. The sharks you're likely to encounter along the surf in that area would be small sandbars, small grey sharks and smoothhounds.”
Finney also shared some tips from Ocearch about staying safe on the water this season.
Evaluate the water quality situation
– Heed lifeguard warnings: Before entering the water, check the lifeguard stand at the beach to see if there are any posted warnings about wave and current conditions and dangerous marine life in the area.
– Rip Currents: Always know where you are before entering the water. You're 132 times more likely to drown at the beach than be bitten by a shark, says Ocearch. The biggest dangers at the beach are undertows, strong currents and rip currents. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that flow away from the shore. If you encounter a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to the shore. Then follow the breaking waves diagonally to the shore. Never swim against the current. If you're unsure of water conditions, contact your local lifeguard or click here.
– Don't swim in the middle of the food chain: Every time you go into the ocean you're stepping into the wild, but there are simple ways to minimize your risk of encountering sharks and other predatory fish, says Ocearch. Avoid swimming in areas with high activity, such as birds diving, fish jumping, and seals swimming. You don't want to swim in the middle of the food chain and be mistaken for a fish, dolphin, seal, or other prey. Instead, move to a quieter part of the beach.
– Be careful of marine life: Most marine life is harmless, but it's important to be careful, says Ocearch. Do not touch or approach unfamiliar marine life as some can be poisonous or aggressive. If you are stung by a jellyfish or other marine life, seek medical attention.
– More is safer: Swim with a buddy if possible. Having a buddy increases your safety by being able to offer or call for help if needed. Avoid swimming far out to where sharks may be patrolling.
– Swim in the ocean during the day: Don't swim between dusk and dawn, as sharks have less visual information at this time to determine that you're not what they're looking for, says Ocearch.
– Avoid shiny jewelry and brightly colored swimwear. Marine animals are attracted to shiny objects and may mistake bright colors for fish scales and mistake them for prey, says Ocearch. If you wear bright colors or jewelry, be aware of your surroundings.
– Avoid swimming if you have any open wounds or cuts: Sharks and other predatory fish can be attracted to the smell of blood, so it's best to avoid swimming if you're bleeding, Ocearch added. Open wounds can also become infected with bacteria in the water, so it's important to cover them with waterproof bandages or other protective measures.
– Protect your skin: Apply sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and reapply frequently throughout the day.
– Stay hydrated: If you're spending any length of time in the sun or saltwater, make sure you drink plenty of water. Dehydration leads to fatigue and increases the risk of accidents.
– Lightning: Being struck by lightning on the beach is much more dangerous than being bitten by a shark, says Ocearch. If you see or hear lightning anywhere in the area, stay away from the beach until the storm has passed. Don't wait until the storm arrives.
“Above all, have fun,” Ocearch said. “The ocean is a wonderful, restorative place to enjoy a holiday with friends and family. Remember, it's a wild place, not a swimming pool. We want our oceans to be healthy and teeming with wildlife, so celebrate the beauty and fun of the ocean, but remember to be safe.”
