It'll take more than a few great white sharks near Cape May and Long Beach Island to keep beach lovers from the Jersey Shore this weekend. Laurie Krempa, a regular to the area, told CBS New York that she has no intention of changing her July 4th plans to visit the shore, and places her full trust in the probably teenaged, whistle-twirling lifeguards.

“We’re not leaving,” she said. “They have lifeguards up and down the coast. If they see anything, I’m sure they’d blow the whistle and get everyone out.”

Local fishermen also seem pretty nonchalant about the prehistoric killing machines.

T.J. Loughran also said, "I love to fish and I love the water and I'm not changing a thing. This is the first time I ever heard of a great white near here."

It may be the first that many beachgoers are hearing about the great whites but it will probably not be the last. A study released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that the great white shark population is increasing along the east coast. (Awesome.) Like there was this one off Cape May last month:

According to the survey, "White sharks primarily occurred between Massachusetts and New Jersey during summer and off Florida during winter, with broad distribution along the coast during spring and fall. The majority of fishing gear interactions occurred with rod and reel, longline, and gillnet gears." (Annnnd terrifying.)

The study also found that while great whites were in decline during the 1970's and 1980's, they have made a resurgence in the 1990's. This is actually a good thing.

If you are considering canceling your Jersey Shore swimming plans, just remember that the odds of being attacked by one are miniscule (though pay no mind to this great white that was also caught and released in the waters of Rockaway Beach). NYC's pools are open for business.