Shark sighting forces closure of beach in state park
This is why I DO NOT go in the water!!!
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lishar0718,0,3418406.story
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
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.
Related links
Shark sighting Map data ©2008 Tele Atlas - Terms of UseView Detailed VersionReset Map
Local Police Mugshots
View police mugshot photo gallery >>
Car accidents on LI
View car accident gallery >>
Nassau's DWI arrests from July
View the 'wall of shame' photo gallery >>
Infamous fake photos
View the most outrageous photo fabrications >>
Photos of the Day
View photos of the day gallery >>
Is Superman a Republican?
What is the political affiliation of superheroes? >>
Newsday's LI Newsmap
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.
