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Should New York's beachgoers fear sharks this holiday weekend? Experts weigh in.
By
Paige Oamek
Published Jul 5, 2025
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Paige Oamek
Published Jul 5, 2025
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"You open the beaches on the Fourth of July, it's like ringing the dinner bell, for Christ's sake," declared Roy Scheider’s police chief character in the film “Jaws.”
After a woman was bitten by a shark at Jones Beach on Long Island last weekend, many New Yorkers are wondering if it’s safe to swim as they head to the beach for the holiday weekend.
When Gothamist asked shark experts about whether New Yorkers should worry about shark-infested waters, their answer was a resounding no.
“They're not looking to eat people,” said Teddy Tilken, the curator of fish and invertebrates at the Long Island Aquarium. “ If we were on the menu and if it was a big issue, we would have far more incidents.”
Shark bites are rare. There were only 28 confirmed incidents nationwide last year, down nearly 30% from the year prior. None of them took place in New York state.
But state officials have raised the alarm about shark readiness in the wake of last weekend’s incident. Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, Gov. Hochul announced that six additional drones will patrol New York's beaches, bringing the total number to 28 drones and 48 drone operators aiding staff, lifeguards and park police.
“We are continuing to strengthen our shark surveillance capabilities and safety tactics at these beaches to help protect these treasured summertime traditions,” Hochul said on Wednesday.
Further fueling concerns, two sharks were sighted off Rockaway Beach on Friday, prompting lifeguards to shut down the beach to swimmers for several hours. No one was injured.
Staying close to shore and steering clear of rip currents and murky water are good ways to avoid run-ins with sharks, according to experts. Both Tilken and the New York Aquarium’s Hans Walter also emphasized the importance of looking for schools of bait fish, which sharks eat, in the water rather than trying to spot the sharks themselves.
However, there are some telltale signs that a shark may be nearby, such as rippling on the water’s surface or flocks of seabirds circling overhead.
“ The Atlantic Ocean is our backyard and sharks and many other fish and marine animals live in it, and they are our neighbors,” Walter said. “Be shark smart, stay away from bait fish.”
“More people actually die in car accidents on the way to the beach than from shark encounters that they have there,” added Tilken.
If you aren’t keen to hit the beach this weekend but your interest in sharks is piqued, consider visiting the Long Island or New York Aquariums, where you can see – and even swim with – some of the roughly two dozen shark species that live in New York’s waters year-round.
Or you can check out Radiolab’s latest podcast series, “Swimming with Shadows: A Radiolab Week of Sharks,” from the comfort of home.
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new york city
new york state
parks
Paige Oamek
Paige Oamek is a reporter on Gothamist & WNYC's day-of general assignment desk.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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