NYSDEC: Report Shark Sightings and Celebrate Shark Week in New York

There are multiple shark species in New York’s marine waters, and DEC is celebrating some of the most well-known sharks in our area during #SharkWeek. Follow along with us this week on DEC's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages to learn more about sharks in New York! 

You can typically find sharks in the deep waters offshore, but you can also find them chasing baitfish in the surf and coastal bays. Report any sightings of sharks to DEC's Shark Spotter Digital Survey. Information provided to DEC helps researchers better understand New York's shark populations. Check out the Shark Spotter Public Viewer to learn more about shark sightings that have been reported to DEC. 

Before going fishing, make sure to visit our Recreational Shark Fishing webpage for information about permit requirements and regulations. Learn more about shark fishing and proper handling techniques by watching NOAA’s Shark Endorsement Education video.

Data collected by the MD DNR and Old Dominion University show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia were better than average in June 2021. The hypoxic water volume — areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.21 and 1.28 cubic miles during early and late June monitoring cruises, compared to historical early and late June averages (1985-2020) of 0.89 and 1.31 cubic miles. The early June report ranks as the best on record, and late June was slightly better than average.

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The seafood industry has been important culturally and economically to Massachusetts for centuries. In 2019, Massachusetts remained one of the top states for commercial seafood landings and value in the country, according to NOAA Fisheries’ recently released Fisheries of the United States, 2019 Report (https://bit.ly/3xj0Dcl). Massachusetts was second to Alaska in ex-vessel value of landings in 2019 at $679.3 million.

As another summer is upon us, white sharks are returning to feed in Massachusetts waters. Since 2009, DMF biologists (and collaborators) have been examining the movement ecology, behavior, natural history, and population dynamics of this species through its Shark Research Project. To date, agency staff have tagged more than 230 white sharks with a variety of high-tech tags to study their fine- and broad-scale movements.

New DMF research into winter flounder spawning habitat using advanced DNA technology is expected to aid in the future refinement of spawning closures and time-of-year restrictions on dredging and other projects.

DMF implemented regulations last year requiring the use of circle hooks while recreationally fishing with live or dead bait for striped bass in place of J hooks which been shown in studies to “deep hook” more often than circle hooks. The rest of the East Coast states joined us this spring in also requiring circle hooks to comply with the rules set out in Addendum VI to Amendment 6 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan. Also part of Addendum VI was the requirement to reduce removals by 18% through new bag and/or size limits. Following Addendum VI, DMF implemented a recreational limit of 1 striped bass per day, within the slot of 28” to less than 35” total length. These strict new rules are intended to reduce mortality so that the striped bass stocks can begin rebuilding.

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Many of our youth anglers are quiet victors. They are often measurably reserved when they march to the winner’s circle to claim their awards during tournaments. Their poised demeanor is profoundly professional. They smile big, blush from the embarrassing whoops and hollers from their families and friends and politely shake hands with the men and women calling them to the front of crowds of hundreds of people.

Woods Herring, a quiet, powerhouse youth angler fishing aboard Glazed, is undoubtedly that kind of winner. While we recognize that we might just see the shy versions of otherwise boastful kids, we seriously doubt that possibility when considering Woods. The 12-year-old seems too collected, sportsmanlike and mature for such foolishness.

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