Shark sightings spike near America’s beaches as July 4 crowds head to shore for weekend

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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 attacks are still extremely rare,” Heithaus said.

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“People should always be aware of local conditions andlisten to lifeguards, but shark bites are very rare,” he emphasized.

Dorsal fin of a great white shark breaking the ocean surface in shallow coastal waters.

As beach attendance surges over the Fourth of July weekend, shark experts reassure Americans that there’s little reason to fear entering the water, though they do stress following certain safety practices. (iStock)

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, however, are more likely than others to see shark activity.

New Smyrna Beach in Florida, North Carolina’s Outer Banks,Cape Codand parts of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine are among the East Coast regions where people are more likely to encounter sharks.That’s due to seasonal migration patterns, warming waters and abundant prey, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report.

Moregreat white sharkshave 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, the publication noted.

Shark experts recommend following lifeguards’ instructions and staying aware of local conditions.(Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

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 ofswimmers and surferseach year.

Even in areas where sharks are commonly found, encounters with people rarely end in bites, Heithaus said.

“Even when big sharks do encounter people, they almost always ignore us,” he said.

Sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems, he added.

Even in water where sharks are frequently found, experts noted that encounters with humans rarely lead to bites.(iStock)

“It’s important for people to know sharks are important for healthy oceans,” Heithaus said.

“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.So, we need to make sure we haveplenty of sharkswhile also making sure people are safe.”

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As beach crowds grow over theholiday 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.

On Friday afternoon at Jones Beach, a swimmer was bitten by a shark,reported.It happened after swimming was banned at Point Lookout and nearby beaches Thursday after lifeguards spotted a 9-foot shark in the water, according to the Town of Hempstead.

com/category/us/new-york-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Citybeaches over the Fourth of July holiday last year, temporarily prompting officials to close a stretch of shoreline in Queens as a precaution.

With warm waters, rich marine ecosystems and millions of annual swimmers and surfers, Florida remains one of the nation’s leading shark hot spots.(Ronaldo Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The sightings occurred off Far Rockaway, where multiple sharks were spotted swimming near beachgoers.Authorities temporarily closed Beach 30 before reopening it about an hour later after determining conditions were safe.