A sand tiger shark is seen at New York Aquarium in Coney Island. Scientists have discovered a nursery ground for sand tiger sharks in an estuary off the southern shore of Long Island.(Photo: Wildlife Conservation Society via AP)
(NEWSER)
<span style="color: Red;">*</span>– Mean-looking sharks are visiting waters off Long Island for what<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
Fox News<span style="color: Red;">*</span>calls "summer camp for baby Jaws." Fear not, it's actually a good thing. Scientists at New York Aquarium have discovered a nursery ground for sand tiger sharks, which are actually docile, in Great South Bay. Researchers began tracking the sharks—which the National Marine Fisheries Service considers a "species of concern"—in 2011 when a dead juvenile was found at a marina. With help from acoustic transmitters and tags, they discovered juvenile sharks were frequenting Great South Bay to feed and develop. "Sand tiger shark pups are not born here but migrate from down south to spend the summers as juveniles in New York's coastal waters," a scientist tells the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
New York Daily News, adding 15 sharks tagged so far "will help us better understand where the sharks go, their habitat needs, and how we can better protect them."
Protection is particularly important as the sharks' habitat sees plenty of boating, fishing, and dredging, reports<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
Discovery News. However, "the nursery is so close to shore waters that the heavy traffic could be keeping away the shark's predators," says a researcher. More research is needed to determine why the sand tiger sharks—listed as "vulnerable" and "critically endangered" in other parts of the world—are drawn to Great South Bay, but "this habitat must provide food sources as well as protection from their predators," the researcher adds. "As long as such key components are met, the sharks will likely continue to return." Only a few nurseries for sand tiger sharks have been found, including one off Massachusetts, per<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
CBS New York. Sharks up to five years of age have been spotted in Great South Bay. (The East Coast's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
shark population is booming.)
This story originally appeared on Newser:
NEWSER
Mean-Looking Sharks Are Flocking to Long Island. That's Actually a Good Thing
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