Beaches closed to swimming after shark sighting
Hempstead bay constables, Nassau Police and town lifeguards patrol Point Lookout and Nickerson beaches for sharks on July 30. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Officials have closed swimming off South Shore beaches in Point Lookout and Nickerson Beach after sharks were spotted for a second day.
Hempstead Town officials said a large shark was spotted at 3:15 p.m. off Nickerson Beach. Officials closed swimming at Nassau County’s Nickerson Beach and at town beaches through the afternoon.
The town’s shark patrol and the county are patrolling in boats and jet skis searching for sharks in the area.
Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin said the 7-foot shark breached the water and was spotted by lifeguards and swimmers before everyone was waved out of the ocean.
There have been about 16 shark sightings in the past two weeks, including six confirmed bull sharks, known for aggressive behavior while feeding on fish and rays in warm, shallow water.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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