Play It Safe

Sharks have been all over the news lately, and for good reason: “Shark Bites Human” stories grab attention, and the headlines make for good summer fodder on the evening news.

But let’s stop to reflect and remember that sharks aren’t out to get us. In fact, there’s an ecological explanation for why there have been more shark/people encounters in recent years. It’s called bunker, aka Atlantic menhaden, a fish species that Northeast coastal states have protected — successfully — from over-harvesting in recent years.

Bunker is exactly the kind of fish food that sharks and other sea life, including whales and dolphins, love to feed on. With the return of bunker populations to East End waters, it’s inevitable that sharks would follow, and when those huge schools of tiny fish swim near the shore, so do the animals that like to eat them.

This is actually a good thing. A healthy population of bunker means we have a healthy ecosystem, even if that ecosystem sometimes brings swimmers into proximity with sharks — animals that, we should remember, have been on this Earth in one form or another for 450 million years.

On Long Island alone, there have been no fewer than six shark/people encounters in recent weeks. While the term “attack” is used in describing many of these events, it’s worth noting that none of those on the receiving end of the sharks’ teeth was grievously wounded. And none was really attacked; marine experts are quick to point out that humans aren’t sharks’ preferred menu item. It’s more likely that a bite is a case of mistaken identity, with a glimpse of skin or jewelry appearing to be the flash of a bunker.

So, in short, while we don’t need to be terrified to go in the water, we do need to be smart, and there are a few common-sense rules to follow when it comes to the ocean. Chief among them is to avoid swimming at dawn and dusk, times when sharks tend to feed — and stay out of bunker schools if you can. Also, try to avoid murky water.

But the most important rule of the ocean is to swim where and when lifeguards are on duty. Not only are our local lifeguards some of the best in the business, they are also in the best position (literally) to see what’s happening in the water. From their perch high on the lifeguard chair, they are the first to recognize signs that bunker (and possibly sharks) are moving down the shore. In fact, they are actively looking for those signs in order to warn swimmers.

Swimming near lifeguards is not just about keeping people safe from sharks. It’s important to keep in mind other ocean dangers, including rip currents, which can drag swimmers far offshore before they even realize they are in trouble. Swimming at protected beaches watched over by well-trained and highly prepared East End sentinels is the key to safety.

Just last week at Montauk’s Ditch Plains, three off-duty lifeguards jumped into action when an evening swim in rough waters turned tragic for a trio of swimmers who were swept out by a rip current. Though one of the swimmers lost his life in the incident, the two others were saved by the quick action of the lifeguards.

So while sharks may be one danger to be aware of in the ocean, they are hardly the only one. Please play it safe (and smart) this summer by choosing wisely in terms of deciding when and where to go in the water.