Science- An unusually high number of people were bitten by sharks in early July near New York.
- Despite that spike, shark bites are fairly rare.
In early July near New York, there were five shark encounters that resulted in bites. Later that month, a shark bit a man off Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, WYFF reported.
Experts aren't sure what type of shark is responsible for the bites in New York, but sand tiger sharks are a likely suspect. In 2016, scientists announced they'd found a nursery for the species off the southern coast of Long Island, NPR reported.
Prior to last year, New York had a very low number of shark bites, according to the Florida Museum International Shark Attack File. While the localized spike is unusual, the total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide has averaged about 74 per year.
"I would say every summer there's a perception that there are more than normal, but this year looks very much like last year," said Catherine Macdonald, a marine conservation biologist with the University of Miami.
Why sharks bite humans
There are roughly 520 species of sharks, according to the University of Florida. Some eat mammals while others prey on fish. Sand tiger sharks are fish eaters.
Even a fish feeder can cause a nasty bite if they mistake you for dinner, Yannis Papastamatiou, an associate professor of biological sciences at Florida International University, said. "Catching prey isn't easy, so they'll often operate on a sort of lightning-fast, split-second decision," he said.
"I would say that these injuries probably haven't been too severe in part because we're not talking about extremely large animals, in part because humans are definitely not on the menu for them," said Macdonald, referring to the New York encounters.
Both Macdonald and Papastamatiou stressed that shark bites are rare. In 2022, there were 57 bites worldwide, five of which were fatal, according to the International Shark Attack File. Most occurred in the US and Australia.
Though those engaged in surface water sports far offshore, like surfing, tend to have more shark encounters than swimmers, the animals can come close to shore, too.
Macdonald said shark nurseries are often found in shallow waters near shores. "They're good places for juvenile sharks to find the food that they need to grow and to avoid the larger sharks that they might be a snack for," she said.
But even if you're in the midst of a shark nursery, it doesn't necessarily increase your risk of a bite. In fact, a recent study found that in areas of California where beachgoers and juvenile white sharks frequently overlap, the incidence of bites was very low over the two-year study.
Are there more sharks in the water?
While Papastamatiou noted that there is some evidence of the shark populations in the US rebounding, he added that a rise in bites in one location isn't necessarily correlated with an increase in sharks.
"Shark bites are a function of the number of sharks, but also the number of humans in the water," he said. Since 1994, beach attendance in the US has risen from 105 million to 118 million annually, according to the Florida Museum.
As waters warm due to climate change, "we're seeing some indication of some species expanding their range north," Papastamatiou said. That includes species like bull sharks, which are one of the "big three" species most often involved in unprovoked attacks, along with white and tiger sharks, according to the Florida Museum.
While this isn't directly connected to the recent encounters, it could mean swimmers could see different species of sharks in the New York area in the future.
There's also been a major change in the way people spot sharks in the past few decades: drones. "It may create this sort of false impression that loads of sharks have suddenly come really close to shore, and that may just be an artifact of how we survey," Papastamatiou said.
But drone footage can be misleading, too. In early July, what officials thought were a school of 50 sand tiger sharks actually turned out to be black drum fish.
How to stay safe when swimming near sharks
Macdonald and Papastamatiou both offered tips for keeping both humans and sharks safe in the water:
- "Don't swim in schools of fish where sharks are likely to be actively feeding," Macdonald said.
- "If you see a shark, give it a respectful amount of space," Macdonald said. "Most sharks that encounter swimmers at beaches are just minding their own business."
- "Be aware of your surroundings; be aware of how far you have gone from the beach," Papastamatiou said. Don't stray too far into the ocean. Most shark attacks occur in less than 6 feet of water, according to a 2010 study from the Florida Museum.
- "It's generally safer if you are with a group of people," Papastamatiou said. It increases the likelihood that someone will spot the fin.
- Be extra cautious during dusk, when many shark species tend to feed, according to Papastamatiou.
- Avoid murky water where it can be more difficult for you to spot a shark and for a shark to mistake you for food, Papastamatiou said.