Shark Attack - "Shark Encounters Surge on US Coasts, Prompting New Safety Measures"

This summer has seen a heightened awareness of shark encounters along the US coast, particularly after a recent incident at Jones Beach in Nassau County, New York. Officials report that a 20-year-old woman was bitten by what is believed to be a juvenile sand tiger shark while she was waist-deep in the surf near the Central Mall. She sustained cuts to her foot and leg and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. In response, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced new safety protocols, including increased drone surveillance, more lifeguards, helicopter patrols, and Marine Bureau boats on standby. This coordinated effort between local, state, and city agencies aims to protect swimmers not just from sharks but also from rip currents, which claim an average of 71 lives each year according to the National Weather Service. New York State Park Police have noted an uptick in bunker fish near shore due to cleaner waters, which attracts sharks looking for food. As a result, swimmers are being advised to stay away from areas with schools of fish, seals, or diving seabirds and to swim only when lifeguards are present. In addition, new technology such as the shark excursion barrier, using piping and electromagnets to deter sharks, is being tested off Cape Cod and Montauk.

Other recent US incidents include attacks in Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York. So far in 2025, there have been seven shark bites reported across the United States, with two each in Florida and South Carolina and one each in Hawaii, North Carolina, and New York. Significantly, none of these incidents have been fatal this year. Florida continues to lead in total historical attacks, but this summer Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is tied with Florida as a shark bite hotspot, each reporting two attacks. The South Carolina incidents, unusual for occurring within days of each other, have left residents and visitors wary, though data compiled for 2024 and released in early 2025 indicate that overall shark attacks are actually at all-time lows.

National and global trends point to a decline in shark bites over the past decade. The International Shark Attack File notes there were only 28 unprovoked shark bites and one fatality in the US last year. Worldwide, Australia has reported the highest number of fatalities in 2025, with three deaths on its coast, underscoring that while shark attacks generate significant headlines, they remain exceedingly rare. Experts emphasize that sharks are not actively seeking humans as prey; most encounters are accidental or a result of confusion or curiosity. In the US, concerted public safety efforts, expanded technological surveillance, and environmental monitoring continue to evolve in response to these rare but headline-grabbing incidents.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This summer has seen a heightened awareness of shark encounters
along the US coast, particularly after a recent incident at
Jones Beach in Nassau County, New York. Officials report that
a twenty year old woman was bitten by what is
believed to be a juvenile sand tiger shark while she
was waist deep in the surf near the Central Mall.

(00:20):
She sustained cuts to her foot and leg and was
treated for non life threatening injuries. In response, Nassau County
Executive Bruce Blakeman announced new safety protocols, including increased drone surveillance,
more lifeguards, helicopter patrols, and Marine Bureau boats on standby.
This coordinated effort between local, state, and city agencies aims

(00:43):
to protect swimmers not just from sharks, but also from
rip currents, which claim an average of seventy one lives
each year according to the National Weather Service. New York
State Park Police have noted an uptick in bunkerfish near
shore due to cleaner waters, which attracts looking for food.
As a result, swimmers are being advised to stay away

(01:04):
from areas with schools of fish, seals or diving seabirds,
and to swim only when lifeguards are present. In addition,
new technology such as the shark Excursion Barrier, using piping
and electromagnets to deter sharks, is being tested off Cape
Cod and Montauk. Other recent US incidents include attacks in Florida, Hawaii,

(01:25):
South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York. So far in
twenty twenty five, there have been seven shark bites reported
across the United States, with two each in Florida and
South Carolina, and one each in Hawaii, North Carolina, and
New York. Significantly, none of these incidents have been fatal.
This year, Florida continues to lead in total historical attacks,

(01:47):
but this summer, Hiltonhead Island in South Carolina is tied
with Florida as a shark bite hotspot, each reporting two attacks.
The South Carolina incidents, unusual for occurring within days of
ease each other, have left residents and visitors wary. Though
data compiled for twenty twenty four and released in early
twenty twenty five indicate that overall shark attacks are actually

(02:10):
at all time lows. National and global trends point to
a decline in shark bites over the past decade. The
international shark attack file notes there were only twenty eight
unprovoked shark bites and one fatality in the US last year. Worldwide,
Australia has reported the highest number of fatalities in twenty
twenty five, with three deaths on its coast, underscoring that

(02:33):
while shark attacks generate significant headlines, they remain exceedingly rare.
Experts emphasize that sharks are not actively seeking humans as prey.
Most encounters are accidental or a result of confusion or curiosity.
In the US, concerted public safety efforts, expanded, technological surveillance
and environmental monitoring continue to evolve in response to these

(02:56):
rare but headline grabbing incidents.