As millions of people prepare to go to the beaches of the United States for the July 4 weekend, marine life specialists assure that the risk of shark attacks remains low, although they recommend maintaining basic precautions in the face of increased activity on the coast.

Reports of shark sightings near beaches have increased. The sightings occurred off Far Rockaway, where several sharks were observed swimming near beachgoers. Authorities temporarily closed beach number 30, then reopened it about an hour later after determining that conditions were safe.

Marine biologist Mike Heithaus of Florida International University explained in statements to Fox News Digital that shark bites continue to be rare events, even in the middle of the peak summer season.

“Shark attacks remain extremely rare,” said the specialist, who stressed that the majority of encounters between humans and sharks do not result in incidents.

Recommendations for swimming more safely

According to Heithaus, vacationers should pay attention to the surrounding conditions before entering the sea. Among the main recommendations are avoiding turbid waters, areas with fishing activity and areas where large schools of fish are observed.

He also warned about other risk factors in the ocean, such as rip currents and the presence of species such as jellyfish, which can pose additional dangers to swimmers.

Areas with the greatest presence of sharks on the east coast

Although encounters remain rare, there are regions where the presence of sharks is more common. These include New Smyrna Beach in Florida, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, as well as areas of Cape Cod, as well as areas in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine.

According to reports cited by the Wall Street Journal, rising ocean temperatures, migration patterns and the recovery of species such as seals have contributed to a greater presence of sharks in the northeastern United States.

Florida continues to be one of the states with the highest shark activity due to its warm waters and high concentration of marine life, in addition to the high number of tourists who enter the sea each year.

Recent encounters and prevention measures

Despite the increase in sightings in some areas, experts emphasize that attacks remain exceptional. Even when there is contact, sharks often ignore humans, Heithaus explained.

“In most cases, large sharks show no interest in people,” he said.

Local authorities have reinforced monitoring on beaches during the holiday, using drones, lifeguards and emergency equipment to detect any unusual activity.

Recently, at Jones Beach, a swimmer was bitten by a shark, as reported by Fox 5. The incident occurred shortly after other nearby beaches were temporarily closed following the sighting of an approximately 8.86-foot specimen.

Likewise, in the Far Rockaway area of ​​New York, sightings were recorded that led to the preventive closure of a beach last year, before reopening after confirming safe conditions.

Final recommendations from the experts

Given the high influx of visitors on the 4th of July, specialists recommend swimming near lifeguards, avoiding the sea at dawn or dusk and always respecting the alerts issued by local authorities.

In addition, they emphasize that sharks play a key role in the balance of marine ecosystems, so their conservation is also essential for the health of the oceans.