Climate change is forcing sharks north as unprecedented numbers spotted off New York coastÂ
Species of sharks that normally swim in waters near the equator have started to trek north due to , officials have warned. A number of blacktip reef sharks have been spotted recently off New York's coastline, including one incident Thursday morning at Jones Beach State Park, . Local officials are concerned because the sharks are not native to the area and could pose a threat to swimmers. 'Our guards spotted numerous not just one, but numerous blacktip reef sharks,' said Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin told the news outlet. 'These are really unique sharks...they're Caribbean sharks. They're known to come close to the shoreline in feeding areas. So the concern is obviously with swimmers.' There have been just 14 non-fatal unprovoked attacks on humans by blacktip reef sharks, according to data from the . The vast majority of unprovoked attacks by sharks on humans comes from three species of sharks - bull, great white and tiger. South Fork National History Museum shark researcher Chris Paparo said the sharks are being driven north by changing conditions. 'Climate change is definitely playing a role [...] especially in the sightings we're seeing this year and last year,' Paparo said. 'As sea temperatures are rising due to climate change, a lot of fish populations are shifting north,' he added. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature blacktip reef sharks are considered 'Near Threatened,' susceptible to fishing and habitat destruction. Earlier this month, researchers that different species of sharks that share the same waters hunt in 'shifts.' Blacktip sharks were most active during evening hours, peaking just before 8 p.m. Blacktip reef sharks are not the only species being pushed north because of changing weather patterns. In February, researchers in California found that off the California coast, from Santa Barbara all the way to Bodega Bay, to seek cooler waters as a result of climate change. Though climate change is impacting the migrations and hunting patterns of the apex predators, it's also impacting how they swim. In March 2020, Australian researchers that sharks became 'right handed,' swimming to the right, after swimming in tanks heated to simulate temperature changes that are expected by the end of the century. Rising sea temperatures young sharks by shortening their freeze response times they implement to keep from being eaten by predators such as large fish and other sharks, a recent study found.