As millions of Americans head to the beach for the Fourth of July weekend, shark experts say there's little reason to stay out of the water, though people need to stay alert. Shark bites remain unusual, even during the busy summer beach season.
According to marine biologist experts, shark attacks are still extremely rare. People should always be aware of local conditions and listen to lifeguards, but shark bites are very rare. They recommended avoiding murky water, staying away from areas where large schools of fish are visible and avoiding places where people are actively fishing.
People should also stay alert to local water conditions, including rip currents and the presence of other marine animals such as jellyfish. Certain stretches of the East Coast are more likely than others to see shark activity. These areas include New Smyrna Beach in Florida, North Carolina's Outer Banks, Cape Cod and parts of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine.
The increase in shark activity in these areas is due to seasonal migration patterns, warming waters and abundant prey. More great white sharks have been spending time near Cape Cod as seal populations have rebounded, while warming ocean temperatures and recovering shark populations have contributed to increasing shark activity farther north along the East Coast.
Florida remains one of the country's best-known shark hot spots because of its combination of warm waters, abundant marine life and the presence of millions of swimmers and surfers each year. Even in areas where sharks are commonly found, encounters with people rarely end in bites.
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. Experts emphasize that it's essential for people to know sharks are important for healthy oceans. We have decades of research that shows that sharks contribute to ocean health in a wide variety of ways, some small and some quite significant.
As beach crowds grow over the holiday weekend, experts recommend swimming near lifeguards, staying close to shore, avoiding the water at dawn or dusk when sharks are generally more active and always paying attention to local beach conditions and posted advisories.
Recently, a swimmer was bitten by a shark at Jones Beach on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred after swimming was banned at Point Lookout and nearby beaches the previous day due to a 9-foot shark being spotted in the water.
