The New Jersey Shark Attack file was established in 1998 to investigate all possible incidents of shark attack within the waters of New Jersey. Due to the close proximity and similar habitat with Long Island the file was expanded in 2017 to include all attacks in New York waters. The current area of study is the New York Bight that runs from Cape May, New Jersey to Montauk, New York. Rivers, bays, and estuaries from the areas are included in the reporting area. Also included are freshwater bodies of water and aquariums. The purpose of the file is to place all available data on shark attacks in one useful form to demonstrate how rare these events are. The ultimate goal of the file is to encourage shark conservation as humans pose a much greater danger to sharks than they do to us. A second goal of NJSAF is to investigate and expose those that sell and profit from the illegal shark fin trade.
When I tell people I am a Fisheries Biologist, they typically picture me working offshore counting and measuring fishes on a trawler, or perhaps, waste deep in a cold mountain stream tagging trout. However, nothing could be further from the truth. I am more likely to be found New York City’s Chinatown or at an … Continue reading Fisheries Biologist
Did you know that a purple flag flying at the beach is the warning for dangerous marine life? It may or may not be sharks. Jellyfish and other dangerous animals may also raise the alert. For your safety at the beach, always pay attention to beach warning flags!
As the Spring comes to a rather cold end, we are starting to see signs that the big fish are coming back. This week there are been large numbers of dear Menhaden (Mossbunkers) in the Navesink River. It is always sad to see the dead fish floating after dying of oxygen deprivation. Many can still … Continue reading The big fish are coming!
Though a bit late, I would also like to thank the good people at the Association for Professional Observers for installing me as a professional member for my past work in international fisheries observation. Thank you!
Thank you to the International Association of Fish Inspectors for installing me as a professional member.
With summer coming to the Jersey Shore, it is time to start thinking of ways to save sharks. It will do us all good to spend some efforts on protecting the environment while we are stuck home to break the back of this terrible pandemic. Why save the sharks? Well that is easy, as predators … Continue reading Summer of Conservation at the Jersey Shore
The release of my new book has been postponed until June 22 due to the Pandemic. The second book Shark Attacks of New York Waters is still on Schedule for release early next year. You can order advanced copies of the New Jersey Book on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Attacks-Jersey-Shore-Disaster/dp/1467144991/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=jersey+shore+shark+attack+heyer&qid=1587052948&sr=8-3
