An unusual abundance of marine life, including thousands of sharks, cownose rays, and vast schools of Atlantic menhaden, recently turned stretches of New York's coastal waters off Fire Island dark.
Drone footage captured in late August near Smith Point Beach showed dense masses of menhaden, a type of forage fish, surrounded by migrating rays and sharks. Photographer Mike Busch, who has documented the Long Island coastline for years, described the sheer number of sharks as unprecedented in his experience.
"The difference this year is the number of sharks is something I have never seen before, with literally thousands spread out along the shores of Fire Island and Eastern Long Island," Busch told the Daily Mail. The animals were observed approximately 1,000 feet offshore, but Busch noted the potential for them to move closer to shore.
Experts from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) confirmed that such a large gathering is uncommon. They suggested that warmer water temperatures toward the end of summer could contribute to these aggregations. State officials believe the sharks were primarily drawn to the large schools of menhaden, a critical food source, rather than the rays.
Busch indicated that marine activity had been unusually slow earlier in the season due to a late arrival of menhaden, also known locally as bunker. "Things started slow this year due to a lack of a baitfish called menhaden or bunker," he said. "They finally showed up along with thousands of migrating cownose rays and sharks that feed on them over the last week."
Menhaden typically travel in large schools near the ocean's surface during warmer months. Their dense formation can appear as dark patches from above. These fish are a vital food source for various marine predators, transforming areas of the ocean into active feeding grounds.
While sharks are known to prey on rays, officials stated it is more likely the sharks were pursuing the menhaden. Cownose rays, which are primarily bottom feeders targeting shellfish, may have been present under similar favorable conditions while foraging for different food sources.
Busch speculated that overfishing of menhaden by commercial fleets might have contributed to their delayed appearance. However, the NYDEC has not attributed the timing to commercial fishing, and its latest assessment indicates that the Atlantic menhaden population is not considered overfished. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission did reduce the coastwide catch limit for menhaden for 2026 to ensure sufficient prey for other predators like striped bass.
Several environmental factors can influence the arrival and presence of these species in New York waters, according to the NYSDEC. "Marine ecosystems are incredibly complex," a spokesperson said. "Changes in water temperature, ocean currents, primary productivity, prey species distributions, as well as changes in fishing mortality of both prey species and sharks, all impact when and where these species can be observed in New York waters."
Primary productivity, referring to microscopic organisms at the base of the food chain, can affect the distribution of smaller fish, subsequently drawing larger predators.
Identifying specific shark species from aerial imagery can be challenging due to water clarity and depth. Busch suggested the predators were likely spinner sharks, known for their leaping and spinning hunting behavior. These sharks are known to prey on small baitfish and can jump significant heights while feeding.
Despite the visually striking gathering, officials stated that such concentrations do not necessarily indicate a problem within the ocean ecosystem. Sharks are considered keystone species that play a vital role in maintaining marine health by regulating prey populations and removing unhealthy individuals. "Shark presence is generally considered an indicator of a healthy ocean ecosystem," the NYSDEC spokesperson commented.
However, beachgoers are advised to exercise caution in areas with large schools of fish, splashing baitfish, or diving seabirds, and to avoid murky water. The NYSDEC recommends avoiding swimming at dawn, dusk, or night and following instructions from lifeguards and local authorities.
