Red flags on New York’s beaches prohibit bathing when sharks are sighted. Source: picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com
Four people were attacked by sharks on Long Island beaches in July. Another incident follows in August: A 65-year-old swimmer is bitten on the leg at Rockaway Beach in Queens and loses a lot of blood. Rescue workers treat her on the beach and take her to the hospital, where her condition is said to be “serious but stable”.
A swimmer has been seriously injured in a shark attack on a New York beach. The cases are piling up.
09.08.2023 | 00:21 min
Shark attacks have increased significantly
Shark attacks have increased significantly in recent years, says George Gorman, director of New York State Parks, which includes New York’s beaches:
In early 2018 we saw the first shark bites off Fire Island. […] Before that, we hadn’t seen one in decades.
George Gorman, director of New York State ParksThe show too The statistics: In 2022, the US counted 41 out of 57 shark bites worldwide, eight of them in upstate New York. In the last 180+ years, from 1837 to 2022, in New York, on the other hand, only 12 bites reported.
New York authorities increase security on the coasts
The New York beach authorities are therefore increasing security measures. 500 lifeguards are on duty to pull victims out of the water on jet skis in an emergency. In addition, the police monitor the coast with high-tech drones that are equipped with loudspeakers and even drop life jackets if necessary.
At the same time, the Navy patrols boats, looking for signs of sharks and reporting suspicious sightings to the rescue center. Police officer Troy Caupain explains:
When we see a school of fish split down the middle, that is an indication that a larger fish is below or passing through them. And that’s a red rag for us.
Troy Caupain, New York State Park Police Marine UnitThe New York State Park Police Marine Unit looks out for sharks from the boat.Source: ZDF
Beachgoers are responding positively to these precautionary measures. Janie Fichter, who grew up on Long Island, feels safe with the technology: “I think we should use it to take care of ourselves. So that we can see the shark coming.” Despite the sharks, she continues to go to the beach and into the water.
More sharks is a sign of improved water quality
But why are the sharks approaching the beaches of New York? One factor is climate change: rising water temperatures are moving schools of fish north – and with them the sharks that feed on them.
PUR+ reporter Eric dives into the world of sharks: Large Caribbean reef sharks and tiger sharks await him in the Bahamas.
07/15/2022 | 24:31 min Another reason, according to marine biologist Dr. Robert Hueter, is the improved water quality in front of New York. The proximity of the sharks show a from overfishing and pollution recreational environment and is therefore actually a positive development.
Predatory fish important for balance in the seas
The sharks themselves also play an important role: at the top of the food chain, that’s what they get balance of the ocean. The marine biologist emphasizes the need to coexist with sharks:
When we go to a national park and hike through forests and mountains, we are taught how to deal with bears, mountain lions and so on. The same challenge arises with sharks in the sea.
Robert Hueter, marine biologist
To avoid encounters with the predatory fish, he advises avoiding areas with diving birds or large schools of fish.
Marine biologist Alison Kock’s research helps protect humans and sharks from each other.
25.07.2021 | 28:46 min
In addition, one should not wear flashy bathing suits and shimmering jewelry in the water, so as not to be mistaken for fish. It is safest to swim close to shore and not at dawn or dusk.
Correct behavior when encountering sharks in the water
If you discover a shark in the water, it is important not to attract attention. The recommendation is to stay calm, swim back to shore while keeping an eye on the shark and inform the lifeguards on the beach.
Sharks don’t usually specifically hunt people, according to Hueter, it’s often a matter of chance encounters:
99 out of 100 times the shark will just keep swimming and you will have experienced something unique.
Robert Hueter, marine biologist
If a shark becomes aggressive, fight back and try to poke at sensitive areas like the eyes or gills. Nevertheless: The risk of a shark attack is significantly lower than being struck by lightning.
2023-08-19 10:18:14
#York #risk #shark #attacks #increasing
