Episode 4: Long Island is a Great White Shark Nursery: What that Means for You | Greg Metzger
In Episode 4 of the Dive Long Island Podcast, I sit down with shark researcher Greg Metzger. Greg is a marine science teacher and field coordinator for the South Fork Natural History Museum Shark Research & Education Program.
Greg is on the water catching, tagging, and studying sharks such as the great white shark, right off Long Island’s coast. What he’s discovered is changing how we understand sharks in our waters.
We talk about:
How Long Island became a confirmed nursery for great white sharks
What sharks are actually doing in our waters (and why they’re here)
The truth about shark “danger” vs reality
Why drones might not be as effective as people think
What beachgoers and divers should actually look for to stay safe
How students are getting hands-on experience with real shark research
This episode brings you inside the science and challenges everything you think you know about sharks off Long Island.
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🤝 Connect with SOFO:
🌐www.SOFO.org
Instagram: @sofomuseum @sofosharks
Special thanks to Chris Paparo, Fish Guy Photos, for contributing all the shark footage and images of field work.
🌐 https://www.fishguyphotos.com/
Instagram: @fishguyphotos
Cover photo taken by Keith Ellenbogen
Theme music by Lauren Scanlon
00:00 – Intro: Greg Metzger & The SOFO Shark Program
01:30 – The 10-Point Mistake: A Life-Changing Career Pivot
04:10 – Jacques Cousteau & Early Marine Science Inspiration
07:45 – Identifying the South Shore Great White Nursery
10:10 – Building a Dream: The Southampton High School Wet Lab
19:10 – Touring the Lab: 100+ Tanks & 160 Species
21:55 – Research Ethics & Student Involvement
27:40 – Aquaculture 101: Farming Long Island’s Waters
32:20 – The Transition to High-Stakes Shark Tagging
35:40 – Success: Tagging the First Young-of-the-Year White Shark
40:10 – Prohibited Species: Why Protection is Necessary
42:00 – Mako vs. White Shark: Identification Tips
44:40 – The New York Bight: A Global Nursery Hotspot
51:40 – Field Techniques: How to Catch & Tag a Shark
58:00 – Data Collection: Bloodwork, Biopsies, & CATS Cams
1:02:00 – Changing Tides: New Species Arriving in New York
1:06:20 – "Scratching the Surface": Evaluating Drone Surveillance
1:09:40 – The Golden Rule: Staying Clear of Bunker Schools
1:13:00 – Beach Safety: Education Over Tech
1:24:50 – Diving with Sharks: Risk vs. Reward
1:37:10 – Conservation: The Dangers of Shore-Based Shark Fishing
1:42:40 – Post-Release Mortality: Why Survival Isn't Guaranteed
1:49:30 – Rapid Fire: Favorite Sharks & The Legacy of Jaws