Seaside Park beaches temporarily close after shark sightings
Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:05 PM Updated: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:07 PM
SEASIDE PARK — Beaches for several miles north of Island Beach State Park were closed for hours today after two sharks were spotted swimming near the shorelines, authorities said.
Surfers first reported five-foot-long sharks just off the surf break around 10 a.m. at Seaside Park, said Joe Gomulka, head of the Beach Patrol there. Gomulka said the sharks cruised the beach for about four hours, at some points coming as close as about 20 yards offshore.
Seaside Park beaches were reopened about 2 p.m., but reports of what are believed to be the same sharks closed down beaches at Seaside Heights, the next town north on the coast, for much of the afternoon.
Gomulka said the sharks were not positively identified, but their unusual swimming patterns raised the question of whether or not they may have been sick or injured.
Every summer has its own unique pattern, Gomulka added, and "2010 appears to be the summer of the shark."
The season started with the Coast Guard issuing its first ever shark warning for the northeast. Earlier this week, sharks were spotted both in Ortley Beach, which is a few miles north of Seaside and near Ocean Beach on the barrier island of Toms River.
Authorities said sharks have not been seen at either locations since then.
There have been no reports of shark attacks in New Jersey this summer.
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