NIANTIC, Conn. (WFSB) – A hammerhead shark looks to have swam its way into Long Island Sound, according to video recorded by a Channel 3 viewer.
Joshua Enman said he shot the video on Monday off of Hatchett Reef, not far from Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic.
The sighting happened around noon.
Scientists said rising ocean temperatures have been drawing more hammerhead sharks to New England waters.
CBS News reported that the Rhode Island-based Atlantic Shark Institute tagged one off of Block Island in July. It was a first for the institute.
“With our warming waters, many of the shark species that New England residents associate with Florida and southern states are finding our water temperatures much more attractive than they would have just 25 years ago,” said Jon Dodd, executive director of the Atlantic Shark Institute, in a statement to CBS News.
Scientists described hammerheads as a fish-eating shark species that is not generally interested in humans. However, people should still keep their distance.
The warmer waters have brought other sea life to the region, scientists surmise.
Mystic Aquarium said it believes that’s the reason for recent late-summer dolphin sightings in Long Island Sound.
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