A stay-alert warning has been issued to beachgoers ahead of the Fourth of July weekend as sharks return to coastal waters.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released updated guidance to ‘reduce the risk of human-shark interactions,’ cautioning swimmers that 13 shark species are now returning to the region.
The annual migration typically runs from June through September as ocean temperatures rise.
However, sightings often peak around the Fourth of July when sharks and their prey, including bunker fish, move closer to shore.
There have already been several sightings this year, including a nine-foot white shark spotted off Long Island’s South Shore in May.
‘Human-shark interactions are rare here, but DEC urges beachgoers and water enthusiasts to follow shark safety guidelines to reduce risk and help keep New Yorkers safe this summer,’ DEC Director of Marine Resources Martin Gary said.
Officials are urging beachgoers to avoid areas where seals, schools of fish or diving seabirds are present, stay out of murky water and avoid swimming at dawn, dusk or at night.
Swimmers, surfers and paddlers are also encouraged to stay in groups, remain close to shore and always follow the instructions of lifeguards and park staff.
Shark sightings in New York waters are expected to peak around the Fourth of July. Above, a shark that washed ashore near the village of Quogue, Long Island, in 2022
New York recorded just one confirmed unprovoked shark bite in 2025.
The incident happened on June 27 at Jones Beach State Park, when a 20-year-old swimmer suffered minor, non-life-threatening cuts to her leg after being bitten by a juvenile sand tiger shark.
Despite the lone bite, shark sightings remained frequent throughout the summer, with numerous encounters reported off Long Island and New York City beaches as expanded marine patrols and drone surveillance spotted more predators near shore.
Nationally, there were 28 reported shark attacks in 2025, with Florida accounting for more than half of them at 15 incidents.
New York’s single bite marked a sharp decline from the heightened shark activity seen along the state’s coastline in 2022 and 2023.
Governor Kathy Hochul said in May: ‘As summer approaches, New York State is preparing to safely welcome millions of visitors to our Long Island State Park beaches.
‘We continue to improve our surveillance capabilities to monitor for dangerous conditions and help protect beachgoers. I encourage all visitors to remain alert and adhere to the guidance of lifeguards and park staff when visiting the beach.’
Officials have significantly expanded shark surveillance efforts this summer, with lifeguards, Park Police and park staff using drones to scan the water for sharks and large schools of fish that could attract them closer to shore.
Officials are urging beachgoers to avoid areas where seals, schools of fish or diving seabirds are present, stay out of murky water and avoid swimming at dawn, dusk or at night
A total of 47 drone operators are certified across Long Island State Parks, including lifeguards, police officers and park employees.
Another 20 operators are expected to complete certification by the Fourth of July, bringing the total number of trained drone pilots to 67.
State officials have also added 16 new drones to their fleet, increasing the number of aircraft used during peak beach season to 46.
The predators usually begin appearing in greater numbers around the Fourth of July, when warmer ocean temperatures draw both sharks and bait fish, such as bunker, closer to the shoreline from the Rockaways to Montauk.
Even with several relatively quiet summers in recent years, experts caution that shark activity can change quickly and there is no way to predict exactly what this season will bring.
Frank Quevedo, an environmental scientist and executive director of the South Fork Natural History Museum, told the NY Post: ‘It’s unpredictable what’s going to happen this season.
‘That’s what makes scientific research so interesting and intriguing and exciting – there are still so many answers that we don’t know about.’
