Shark Surveillance Increased in Long Island After 5 Attacks in One Week

Posted: July 10, 2023 11:08 am

A rash of shark bites in recent days along New York’s Long Island area has prompted officials to increase the number and frequency of patrols along the shoreline. Here is the latest news on these attacks as well as what local authorities are doing to keep beachgoers safe just as the busy summer tourist season ramps up.

Drone Patrols Increased in Long Island After Cluster of Shark Attacks

Authorities are increasing drone patrols along the shoreline, leaning on new technology to help to identify where sharks may be potentially swimming. A drone flying over Robert Moses Beach spotted about 50 possible sharks on the same day that a teenage girl was bitten while swimming in the ocean water.

Three of the recent attacks happened in Suffolk County. As a result, the Suffolk County Police Department has ramped up its drone patrols to help to spot the marine animals and warn beachgoers of potential threats.

The increase in the number of shark attacks may seem like deja vu to New York residents and visitors that experienced a string of similar attacks just last summer. These attacks prompted local officials to periodically close beaches out of an abundance of caution.

According to the Long Island Regional Director for New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, it was just last Tuesday that a 15-year-gold was bitten in the water while swimming at the popular Robert Moses Beach. Others in the area reported that they did not see any sharks in the area at the time of the attack. However, an investigation into the bite revealed that it most likely originated from a shark.

On that same day last week, a 15-year-old boy was bitten on the foot while surfing in the waters of Fire Island’s Kismet Beach. Fortunately, both teenagers were dealing with non-life-threatening injuries.

Also on Tuesday, three adults were bitten at various spots along Long Island. These attacks included a 47-year-old male who was wading in water that was chest deep off of Quogue Village Beach. According to the Quogue Village Police Department, the victim suffered lacerations on his knee that were consistent with shark bite marks.

A 49-year-old was also allegedly attacked by a shark at Pines Beach while a female was bitten west of Cherry Grove. Like the teens, all of these individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Risks to Beachgoers

While these reports are certainly alarming, the local law enforcement authorities are encouraging residents and tourists to still enjoy the beach. However, they caution those along the sand and in the water to remain vigilant about the potential of sharing the ocean with sharks. In addition to looking out for sharks, visitors should also be watching for pods of fish that are likely to attract sharks.

It is also a prudent idea to swim in groups of other people. Sharks are more attracted to easy targets such as lone swimmers. Lastly, this is a good reminder to swimmers to stay close to shore. Venturing out deeper will only increase the odds of a shark encounter.

Drones are not the only tools that officials are using to spot these predators. Local government agencies are also stepping up the presence of lifeguards charged with scanning the ocean waters at the area beaches.

It is important to keep in mind that despite the headlines, the odds of a shark attack are still astronomically low. According to the experts with the Florida Museum of Natural History, there were only 57 confirmed and unproved shark attacks in 2022 across the world. Of that number, 41 of the attacks happened in the U.S. Eight of these attacks happened in New York state. These statistics point to the rarity of these events.

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