- A man may have been bit by a shark off a Long Island beach on Thursday, officials said.
- The injury came amid an increase in shark sightings in New York that began last summer.
- Officials are implementing more shark patrols, but experts stress the risk of an attack is very low.
New York City officials are escalating efforts to patrol for sharks after an uptick in sightings and a possible attack at a beach on Long Island, despite assurances from experts that shark attacks pose an exceedingly low risk.
The Nassau County Police Department said Thursday a 57-year-old man was swimming in the ocean at Jones Beach, a barrier island off the southern coast of Long Island. Police said the man sustained a laceration on his right foot while swimming.
Medics later identified the injury as a possible shark bite.
Nassau County police said they would implement increased patrols on beaches over the Fourth of July weekend. Jones Beach in particular is one of the most popular summer destinations for New Yorkers, attracting more than 6 million visitors every year.
Shark attacks are extremely rare everywhere, but especially in New York. Still, since last summer there has been an increase in shark sightings off New York beaches. Sharks were spotted on numerous occasions feeding on schools of fish yards from the shore and in close proximity to swimmers, resulting in temporary closures of some beaches.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman held a press conference on Friday to announce an increase in police shark patrols for the summer, ABC7 reported. The patrols include efforts by boat, helicopter, and drones, as well as hourly sweeps along the shoreline.
Still, experts continue to stress that shark attacks are exceptionally rare.
"The danger to people is infinitesimal," Hans Walters, a scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium, told The New York Times. He added that there is no evidence of an increase of sharks in New York's waters and that recent fears are "very overblown."