The recent surge in shark encounters has sparked concerns among beachgoers.
Five shark bites were reported in just two days off Long Island beaches in New York this week. In Florida, the tranquility of a Pensacola beach turned into a rush to safety as swimmers witnessed a shark’s dorsal fin zipping through shallow waters.
A total of 19 shark attacks have been reported in the United States this year.
Drone patrols have increased over Long Island state beaches, which also experienced eight shark bites last year.
“You never know what’s floating in the water that you can’t see,” said Deborah Rodriguez, a resident of Long Island.
Despite the recent increase in encounters, the likelihood of shark attacks on humans is extremely low, according to Gavin Naylor, director for Shark Research at the University of Florida.
Naylor stated that a person is about 200 times more likely to drown than be bitten by a shark. Winning the lottery, dying in a car crash, or being struck by lightning are also more probable events.
“If sharks were intentionally targeting humans, we would see at least a hundred bites daily,” Naylor explained. Sharks primarily bite humans by mistake and typically mind their own business.
Despite the low risk, Naylor recommends beachgoers to take precautions to minimize the chances of a shark encounter. These precautions include avoiding swimming alone or venturing too far offshore, staying away from areas with schooling fish, refraining from wearing jewelry while swimming, and avoiding swimming near fishing activities.
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