Are There More Sharks in NYC, or Are We Just Seeing Them More?

New York City isn’t typically the first place you think of when it comes to shark sightings. While they’re expected off the coast of Montauk and the Hamptons, New York City’s shark sightings have locals slightly on edge. Although days of beach closures cause some alarm, it doesn’t mean more sharks are flocking to the city’s crowded waters. Instead, experts say technology is allowing us to see sharks more often than ever before. Thanks to seaside drones, we’re able to spot sharks quicker than ever—and this is where New York City is seeing the most.

From Queens to the Hamptons

One area that has been particularly affected by shark sightings is Rockaway Beach. The summer season officially began on Memorial Day weekend, and shark sightings started roughly one month later. Since July 1st, there have been 12 total hours of beach closures. According to Gothamist, this number is potentially on track to match or exceed last year’s total number of beach closings. The recent sightings have already caused frequent closures during the July 4th weekend at Rockaway Beach. One instance closed the beach from 83rd to 120th Street as a shark swam uncomfortably close to beachgoers. Another instance recorded a shark swimming just 100 feet from swimmers in the water. And not surprisingly, this isn’t the only New York beach that sharks are visiting.

Jones Beach’s shark sighting came in the last week of June, which was followed by a shark attack. A 20-year-old woman was wading in waist-deep water when a shark bit her on the leg and foot. Although the injuries were not life-threatening, she was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor lacerations. Experts believe a juvenile sand tiger shark was likely responsible for the bite. Further East, locals in the Hamptons are no strangers to sharks in their waters. This video surfaced in 2025 of what appears to be a juvenile great white swimming off the coast of Southampton. In mid-June, a tagged, 11-foot great white pinged off the coast of Montauk. The shark, named Dold, has pinged as close as 38 miles offshore.

New York’s Native Shark Species

Sharks might strike fear into the hearts of many swimmers, but it’s essential to remember their role in the ecosystem. This species is crucial to our marine environment, and New York City is home to a diverse underwater landscape. Sharks are at the top of the food chain and play a vital role in maintaining balance in the natural order of predation. New York City might be known for its urban atmosphere, but in the surrounding water, sharks are abundant. Quite a few popular shark species are native to these waters, including:

• Atlantic blacktip

• Basking shark

• Blue shark

• Common thresher shark

• Dusky shark

• Sand tiger shark

• Sandbar shark

• Shortfin mako shark

• Smooth dogfish

• Smooth hammerhead shark

• Spinner shark

• Spiny dogfish

• White shark

If you’ve swum on a Long Island beach, you were likely in the water with one of these sharks without even realizing it. Nine times out of ten, they don’t bother humans and go out of their way to avoid them. Twenty-five shark species frequent the waters surrounding New York and New Jersey, and the smooth dogfish, sand tiger shark, and sandbar shark are the most common. According to the New York Post, these species are typically nonaggressive and are only there to hunt small fish. The smooth dogfish is the most common in the Tri-State area, and its teeth are smooth and blunt, making it generally harmless. Therefore, many shark fears are spurred by paranoia rather than factual evidence.

Additionally, the New York Post reports that while baby white and sand tiger sharks can nip, they’re not likely to cause significant damage. The sand tiger shark involved in the Jones Beach attack left minor lacerations, as opposed to the potential harm that a larger species of shark might cause. Some large species have already migrated north once the summer season opens at New York beaches. Recent data shows that great white sharks can still be found off the coast, but typically remain offshore. Therefore, concerns about finding something like a great white just offshore are somewhat unfounded. However, this raises the question: Why do so many sharks seem to be appearing at New York’s beaches?

Why Are More Sharks Appearing in New York?

The shark population off the coast of New York isn’t suddenly increasing. What is growing is the rate at which we can observe sharks in the water. Drones are making it easier than ever to see sharks as they enter our waters. This is what led to so many recent closures at beaches like Rockaway, which could result in a life-saving call. Before drones, shark activity could only be monitored by helicopter or from the shoreline, meaning sharks often flew—or rather, swam—under the radar. With the advent of drones, it’s easy to monitor the situation and close the beach quickly if a shark swims too close to beachgoers.

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