ROCKAWAY BEACH, Queens — A shark washed up on Rockaway Beach Monday afternoon, just days before the scheduled reopening of New York City beaches for swimming.
The shark, which washed up B102, appears to have been injured after being caught up on the jetty at B86, a Parks Department spokesperson said. The shark has since died.
Parks staff removed the shark’s body from the beach.
“We kindly ask New Yorkers to respect the space of any wild animal and appreciate them from a distance,” the spokesperson said. “If you see a wild animal, report the sighting to the WildlifeNYC website.”
There are about 25 species of sharks in the waters off of New York, New York Aquarium Director Jon Dohlin previously told PIX11. There are likely sharks nearby any time a swimmer enters the water.
City beaches are scheduled to reopen for swimming on July 1.
