Not Exactly Jaws on Rockaway Beach

That shark that washed up on Rockaway Beach yesterday and briefly caused lifeguards to close the beach was not much of a threat. The shark, which seems to have beached itself, was pushed back into the water by a beachgoer and was seen swimming offshore for about an hour afterwards.

WCBS reports that, according to an Animal Department Supervisor at the New York Aquarium, the shark was a thresher shark, not known for attacking humans. Its attempts to swim onto shore are considered abnormal so the shark could have been sick. In fact, a 10-year-old witness said, "It was like freaking out. Its tail was flopping everywhere...Maybe it got separated from its family. It looked sick."

A parks department spokesperson said that sharks aren't native to New York's waters, but are sometimes caught in fishing nets and released nearby. While thresher sharks may not attack humans, we sure wouldn't want a 6' shark nipping at our toes while in the water.

Update: We just got this statement from the Parks Department:

At 6:00 a.m. this morning a dead thresher shark (five foot in length) washed ashore at Beach 113th Street in Rockaway, Queens. It is presumed that, despite yesterday's rescue efforts, this was the same shark seen yesterday in this location. At that time the Parks Department lifeguards appropriately closed that section of the beach for most of the day, as the shark could be seen swimming just off shore for several hours. All beaches opened today at 10:00 a.m. and will be open until 6:00 p.m. this evening.

"It is now safe to go back into the water and we invite beachgoers to enjoy a picture-perfect Labor Day weekend at the Rockaway Beach," said Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "A portion of the beach was closed yesterday for public safety reasons as the citizens, the Urban Park Rangers, and the Riverhead Foundation worked to save one of the most respected creatures of the deep. The Parks Department welcomes beachgoers to Rockaway Beach and all of the city beaches and pools for the last two days of the 2007 swimming season."

Photo of shark on Rockaway Beach from WNBC