Three main beaches at Jones Beach State Park were closed to swimmers after an enhanced State Police Aviation Patrol spotted two sharks in the Atlantic Ocean waters off the Central Mall, State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation spokesman George Gorman said.
Gorman said the three beaches — the Central Mall, as well as the East and West bathhouses — were closed from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.
The sightings are the latest of what have been multiple reports of sharks in Nassau and Suffolk waters this summer — and at least five shark attacks.
Gorman said the incident began when a State Police aviation unit spotted two sharks following a school of baitfish in the waters off the Central Mall area. He said the school of baitfish headed to deeper water, and the sharks followed.
The sighting came one day after a 16-year-old from Islip was attacked and bitten on the foot while surfing with a friend off Kismet on Fire Island.
