Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

And this ladies and gents..is why I do not go in the water

Duh-dah, duh-dah, duh-dah, duh-dah, duh-dah?

It wasn't a monstrous great white, terrorizing swimmers in a scene straight out of "Jaws."

But the presence of what one eyewitness told officials was a 4-to-6 foot long thresher shark was enough to startle swimmers and force the closure of Zach's Bay in Jones Beach State Park Thursday morning, New York State Parks spokesman George Gorman said.

The U.S. Coast Guard, New York State Park Police and marine and aviation units from the Nassau County Police Department were all dispatched to the scene -- as swimmers were ushered out of the water. A police helicopter arrived to monitor the scene.



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See what's going on in and around your area >> Of course, like all good fish stories, the shark -- if, in fact, it was a shark -- seemed to grow in size and description as the day wore on. Gorman stressed that officials are still awaiting confirmation from the Coast Guard that the sighting was actually of a shark -- and not some other species of fish. He said the creature was 4- to 6-feet long.

The Zach's Bay station commander, Tony Astacio, told Newsday that it was, in fact, a thresher shark -- and that it was 8-to-10 feet long.

He said the shark passed the red boundary markers and into the swimming area at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday -- and that lifeguards immediately cleared the water, which he said had between 60 and 80 swimmers.

Thresher sharks are easily recognizable for their exceptionally long caudal fin -- which can be one-third of their entire length -- and has a "whiplike" appearance.

Threshers can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Cuba, but usually are found in deeper coastal waters along the continental shelf, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Thresher sharks are rarely found in inshore bays.

The species can grow to more than 20 feet in length and weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds -- though one variety, known as the Pelagic thresher, grows to about 10 feet in length.

Gorman said park officials also immediately notified officials at nearby Tobay Beach, operated by the Town of Oyster Bay. But, he noted, officials believe the creature has left the area.

"We believe," Gorman said, "it went out the same way it came in -- through the state boat channel . . . The history and the likelihood of an attack is extremely minimal. But, we do have to exercise caution."

Shark attacks are extremely rare in New York waters, according to the International Shark Attack File, a database of worldwide shark attacks compiled by the Florida Museum of Natural History.

The file records all known attacks -- dating back to 1670.

The total number in the 338 years of recordable shark attacks in New York?

Just six.

None of them were fatal.

Gorman said officials will reassess the situation Friday morning and make a determination then whether the beach will be reopened -- or remain closed to swimmers.

"We do have a report and sighting every now and then," Gorman said. "But it's very rare."

Marc Beja contributed to this story.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lishar0718,0,3418406.story

Re: Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

D'oh!
It wouldn't have to attack me. I'd probably have a heart attack!

Re: Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

i love how the shark gre longer and longer as the day went on

Re: Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

Posted by HeatherRose

i love how the shark gre longer and longer as the day went on

Re: Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

a friend of mine is a lifeguard on jones beach - she sees FINS constantly - and sharks ALL the time. they almost always keep it very "hush hush" because this is what usually ensues - people panic. a lot of times - when they put up a sign that says "stay in b/c of the current" or something of that nature... it is really because there are a lot of sharks that were spotted that day - and it is easier to keep people closer IN so that one of them doesn't SEE the sharks (or worse) and FREAK.

...that's just what she told me.

Re: Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

Posted by DaniRella

a friend of mine is a lifeguard on jones beach - she sees FINS constantly - and sharks ALL the time. they almost always keep it very "hush hush" because this is what usually ensues - people panic. a lot of times - when they put up a sign that says "stay in b/c of the current" or something of that nature... it is really because there are a lot of sharks that were spotted that day - and it is easier to keep people closer IN so that one of them doesn't SEE the sharks (or worse) and FREAK.

...that's just what she told me.

Re: Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park

I do not like to swim in the ocean for this reason, and the uncertainity of how deep the water is, waves, etc. I like a nice clean swimming pool!