BY Emily Chu
A shark sighting on the Memorial Day weekend, as well as several shark attacks in the past week, has prompted officials to increase shark patrols along the East and West Coasts.
The 10-foot mako shark that was spotted at Point Lookout on Long Island over Memorial Day weekend made headlines. The sighting came before another shark attack on Long Island on July 3rd, when a lifeguard was injured in a training session. Last Thursday, a shark bit a 17-year-old Addison Bethea on the coast of Keaton Beach, Florida. And last month in Pacific Grove, California, a man almost bled to death after he was bitten by a shark.
The recent surge in shark sightings and attacks has led to an increase in shark patrols, including the use of drones, tracker, helicopters, and boats.
Beaches all around the United States have taken more precautions, from extra routines for lifeguards to patrols on Jet Skis and paddleboards. They’ve also started stocking extra first-aid supplies like tourniquets, and promoted classes on water rescue techniques. Online shark trackers were put on potentially dangerous sharks. Drone squads were used, and many lifeguards is now trained on classes on shark species.
Lifeguards and supervisors have been taking a more serious view on sharks, compared to previous times, when they were only expected to “simply to keep an eye out for the occasional dorsal fin,” according to the New York Times.
“Our beaches are really what attract people to Long Island, so we are definitely increasing our patrols,” said Bruce Blakeman, a Nassau County executive. “We’re upping our game to make sure everybody is safe.” He also said that there will be “increasing patrols this summer, both by boat and by helicopter, to do hourly runs over the shoreline.”
It is apparent that lifestyles and routines have changed dramatically with the recent increase in patrols. Cary Epstein, a lifeguard in Jones Beach, NY, shared his perspective on the case.
“It’s like a new world we’re living in. In my 25 years as a lifeguard, we never had to do this,” he said. “This isn’t ‘Jaws,’ we’re not talking about a great white, man-eating machine — but if a thresher shark comes through and takes a nibble on your foot, that could be a problem.”
Jones Beach has been supplied with a drone squad to help monitor for sharks. One of Epstein’s colleagues was injured at the beach, likely by a shark.
Amidst the surge of headlines on the danger of sharks, many experts say that shark attacks are extremely rare. “[The] chance of being bitten is one in 11 million,” according to CBS News. Some even say the media is spurring an unnecessary fear of sharks in the public.
“The danger [of sharks] to people is infinitesimal,” said Hans Walters of the Wildlife Conservation Society. He explains that since there are more precautions and patrols for sharks, shark sightings have become more common. Some sharks that might not have been seen in previous years have been spotted this year simply because of the extra patrols.
“These sharks are not looking for people,” Walters explained. “They’ve been prowling the ocean for millions of years and there are no more sharks here this year, or last year, or the year before that. We’re just looking for them more.”
Others say rising sea temperatures might be to blame for the increasing number of sharks. Chris Stefanou, a fisherman from Long Island, said that as water temperatures have increased, he has seen more sharks every year. He explains that there has been an increase in the number of hammerheads and bull sharks, which usually stay in tropical and warmer waters, between the latitudes 40°N – 35°S.
However, experts still suggest precautions when going to the beach. Following lifeguard orders and keeping close to shore is a great way to prevent unnecessary conflict. Apps that track shark sightings have also been created in recent times to inform users about the likelihood of sharks at the beach.
The “Jaws Effect” is still present in society today. Public perception of sharks has changed greatly since the movie was premiered, and is continuing to do so—perhaps with unnecessary fear in recent times.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/10-foot-mako-shark-spotted-on-long-island-beach-shore/
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/increase-shark-patrols-recent-attacks/
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/37987/20220601/10-foot-shark-seen-struggling-along-shoreline-long-island.htm
https://www.silive.com/news/2022/07/man-suffers-possible-shark-bite-on-jones-beach-police-are-adding-to-patrol-report.html
https://www.montereyherald.com/2022/06/24/pacific-grove-shark-attack-victim-stable-will-make-full-recovery/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shark-attack-florida-teen-will-lose-leg-brother-rescued-her/
https://twitter.com/BucketBuoy/status/1531428204799574019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1531428204799574019%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencetimes.com%2Farticles%2F37987%2F20220601%2F10-foot-shark-seen-struggling-along-shoreline-long-island.htm
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/sphyrna-mokarran/#:~:text=Circumtropical%20in%20distribution%2C%20the%20great,of%20Mexico%20and%20Caribbean%20regions.
A shark sighting on the Memorial Day weekend, as well as several shark attacks in the past week, has prompted officials to increase shark patrols along the East and West Coasts.
The 10-foot mako shark that was spotted at Point Lookout on Long Island over Memorial Day weekend made headlines. The sighting came before another shark attack on Long Island on July 3rd, when a lifeguard was injured in a training session. Last Thursday, a shark bit a 17-year-old Addison Bethea on the coast of Keaton Beach, Florida. And last month in Pacific Grove, California, a man almost bled to death after he was bitten by a shark.
The recent surge in shark sightings and attacks has led to an increase in shark patrols, including the use of drones, tracker, helicopters, and boats.
Beaches all around the United States have taken more precautions, from extra routines for lifeguards to patrols on Jet Skis and paddleboards. They’ve also started stocking extra first-aid supplies like tourniquets, and promoted classes on water rescue techniques. Online shark trackers were put on potentially dangerous sharks. Drone squads were used, and many lifeguards is now trained on classes on shark species.
Lifeguards and supervisors have been taking a more serious view on sharks, compared to previous times, when they were only expected to “simply to keep an eye out for the occasional dorsal fin,” according to the New York Times.
“Our beaches are really what attract people to Long Island, so we are definitely increasing our patrols,” said Bruce Blakeman, a Nassau County executive. “We’re upping our game to make sure everybody is safe.” He also said that there will be “increasing patrols this summer, both by boat and by helicopter, to do hourly runs over the shoreline.”
It is apparent that lifestyles and routines have changed dramatically with the recent increase in patrols. Cary Epstein, a lifeguard in Jones Beach, NY, shared his perspective on the case.
“It’s like a new world we’re living in. In my 25 years as a lifeguard, we never had to do this,” he said. “This isn’t ‘Jaws,’ we’re not talking about a great white, man-eating machine — but if a thresher shark comes through and takes a nibble on your foot, that could be a problem.”
Jones Beach has been supplied with a drone squad to help monitor for sharks. One of Epstein’s colleagues was injured at the beach, likely by a shark.
Amidst the surge of headlines on the danger of sharks, many experts say that shark attacks are extremely rare. “[The] chance of being bitten is one in 11 million,” according to CBS News. Some even say the media is spurring an unnecessary fear of sharks in the public.
“The danger [of sharks] to people is infinitesimal,” said Hans Walters of the Wildlife Conservation Society. He explains that since there are more precautions and patrols for sharks, shark sightings have become more common. Some sharks that might not have been seen in previous years have been spotted this year simply because of the extra patrols.
“These sharks are not looking for people,” Walters explained. “They’ve been prowling the ocean for millions of years and there are no more sharks here this year, or last year, or the year before that. We’re just looking for them more.”
Others say rising sea temperatures might be to blame for the increasing number of sharks. Chris Stefanou, a fisherman from Long Island, said that as water temperatures have increased, he has seen more sharks every year. He explains that there has been an increase in the number of hammerheads and bull sharks, which usually stay in tropical and warmer waters, between the latitudes 40°N – 35°S.
However, experts still suggest precautions when going to the beach. Following lifeguard orders and keeping close to shore is a great way to prevent unnecessary conflict. Apps that track shark sightings have also been created in recent times to inform users about the likelihood of sharks at the beach.
The “Jaws Effect” is still present in society today. Public perception of sharks has changed greatly since the movie was premiered, and is continuing to do so—perhaps with unnecessary fear in recent times.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/10-foot-mako-shark-spotted-on-long-island-beach-shore/
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/increase-shark-patrols-recent-attacks/
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/37987/20220601/10-foot-shark-seen-struggling-along-shoreline-long-island.htm
https://www.silive.com/news/2022/07/man-suffers-possible-shark-bite-on-jones-beach-police-are-adding-to-patrol-report.html
https://www.montereyherald.com/2022/06/24/pacific-grove-shark-attack-victim-stable-will-make-full-recovery/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shark-attack-florida-teen-will-lose-leg-brother-rescued-her/
https://twitter.com/BucketBuoy/status/1531428204799574019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1531428204799574019%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencetimes.com%2Farticles%2F37987%2F20220601%2F10-foot-shark-seen-struggling-along-shoreline-long-island.htm
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/sphyrna-mokarran/#:~:text=Circumtropical%20in%20distribution%2C%20the%20great,of%20Mexico%20and%20Caribbean%20regions.
