Recently, there have been increased sightings of sharks near the beaches of Long Island. In the past, shark sightings had been rare, but recently sharks have been feeding on bait fish very close to the swimmers. This means that there are increased shark patrols and even drones that are used to monitor the sharks. It’s like a new world we’re living in,” said Cary Epstein, a veteran guard at Jones Beach. “In my 25 years as a lifeguard, we never had to do this.”
The lifeguards have also purchased more jet skis, which they use to patrol the ocean for sharks that are too close to people. Additionally, some places also have lessons for lifeguards about the types of sharks, to help them identify if the shark they see is dangerous to humans or not. “They’re feeding on bait — they’re not cruising the shorelines look for people,” John Ryan Jr., the lifeguard chief in the Town of East Hampton said. “But if you don’t do anything and then something happens, that’s a problem.”
The lifeguard chiefs say that the sharks are not targeting humans, but people should still stay away from the water if they are close to the shore. Chris Stefanou, a long island fisherman, says that the sharks have been closer to the shore as the temperature has increased in recent years. “There are more and more sharks in the water, which sounds scary,” he said. “But it’s actually a good thing because it reflects a healthy ecosystem.”
Link to article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656875678637x736341318503444600/N.Y.%20Lifeguards%20Now%20Watch%20for%20Sharks%2C%20Facing%20Dramatic%20Increase%20in%20Sightings%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
The lifeguards have also purchased more jet skis, which they use to patrol the ocean for sharks that are too close to people. Additionally, some places also have lessons for lifeguards about the types of sharks, to help them identify if the shark they see is dangerous to humans or not. “They’re feeding on bait — they’re not cruising the shorelines look for people,” John Ryan Jr., the lifeguard chief in the Town of East Hampton said. “But if you don’t do anything and then something happens, that’s a problem.”
The lifeguard chiefs say that the sharks are not targeting humans, but people should still stay away from the water if they are close to the shore. Chris Stefanou, a long island fisherman, says that the sharks have been closer to the shore as the temperature has increased in recent years. “There are more and more sharks in the water, which sounds scary,” he said. “But it’s actually a good thing because it reflects a healthy ecosystem.”
Link to article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656875678637x736341318503444600/N.Y.%20Lifeguards%20Now%20Watch%20for%20Sharks%2C%20Facing%20Dramatic%20Increase%20in%20Sightings%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
