Summering on Long Island may not be just for humans. According to Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) scientists have discovered a sand tiger nursery area in the Great South Bay. According to WCS “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.”
“The Great South Bay shark nursery provides juvenile sand tiger sharks ranging from several months to five years in age with a place to feed and grow. A nursery also gives juvenile sharks protection from predators, including other sharks. After birth off the southeastern United States (sand tiger sharks give birth to live young as opposed to laying eggs), the juvenile sharks migrate north in the spring and spend the summer in New York waters before returning south in the fall.”
The tiger sand shark is considered an endangered or vulnerable species. There has been a federal and NYS prohibition on fishing for sand tiger sharks in effect since 1997. The shark is considered non-aggressive.