2 LI ocean beaches reopen for swimming after shark-related closures, state officials say

Swimming was prohibited Wednesday morning at Robert Moses State Park and in the early afternoon at Jones Beach after sharks were spotted in the water, state officials said.

Both beaches reopened hours later for swimming, according to George Gorman Jr., regional director of the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

A state-run drone first spotted pods of bunker fish and sharks at Robert Moses Wednesday morning and officials immediately prohibited swimming, Gorman said.

As the sharks moved further east, Fields 2 and 3 were reopened for swimming at 12:30 p.m. and at Fields 4 and 5 two hours later, he said.

Shortly before 2 p.m., four sharks feeding on bunker fish were spotted by a State Police drone in the waters near the Central Mall at Jones Beach and swimming there was prohibited, Gorman said.

The waters at Jones Beach were reopened for swimming shortly before 5 p.m., Gorman said.

Long Island officials have stepped up efforts to spot sharks, following six bites and numerous sightings this summer, including at many South Shore beaches. None of the bites was life-threatening, officials said.

The most recent bite victim was a teen surfer bitten at Kismet Beach on Fire Island July 20, just hours after a small dead white shark washed up on shore in Quogue.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.