Shark Research and Conservation

Shark Research

Shark Spotter

We invite you to submit your observations of sharks in the wild. The observations you submit help biologists record the presence of sharks in New York State waters and help to further the understanding of local shark ecology and behavior.

If you are boating or enjoying the beach and observe a shark, please take some pictures, then report your sighting using the DEC Shark Spotter Survey.

New York Shark Salvage Program

Dead sharks wash ashore occasionally. Shark mortalities can occur for various reasons, including fishery interactions, predation, parasitism, as well as other natural causes. DEC collects information on each reported dead shark, including the location, species, length, and sex of the animal. If possible, tissue samples will be collected, and a necropsy will be completed to identify potential causes of death.

These efforts help to gain a better understanding about how each animal may have died, which can inform fisheries management. Tissue samples are shared with several academic and scientific researchers in New York and across the country to facilitate multiple ongoing biological studies.

To report your sighting of dead sharks, use DEC's Marine Life Incident Report or call 631-444-0444.

Shark Management and Conservation

NOAA Fisheries finalized a fishery management plan and began managing the U.S. shark fishery in federal waters in 1993. For information about the fisheries management of Atlantic Sharks in federal waters, visit NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Highly Migratory Species.

Coastwide management of sharks in state waters is regulated by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Coastal Shark Management Board. ASMFC Approved the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks in 2008. For more information about coastwide fisheries management of shark species in state waters, visit ASMFC's Coastal Sharks.

For details about the conservation status of New York shark species, review the Shark Conservation Status & Definitions (PDF).

For information about DEC’s shark regulations, visit the Recreational Shark Fishing page.