Nassau County to announce heightened safety measures following shark attack at Jones Beach

The safety measures come ahead of what is expected to be an incredibly busy week for beachgoers along the shore.

Jonathan Gordon

Jun 30, 2025, 9:15 AM

Updated 2 hr ago

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Nassau officials are stepping up safety measures at all county beaches after a woman was bitten by a shark at Jones Beach last week.
While they haven't announced specifics yet, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, County Parks Commissioner Darcy Belyea and County Police officials said they will have drones, a helicopter and the Marine Bureau Boat on hand.
The group will also lay out ocean safety tips to protect residents against rip currents and other dangers associated with ocean swimming.
On average, 71 people die in rip current drownings each year, according to the National Weather Service. The federal agency has preliminarily reported 33 surf zone fatalities across the U.S. this year, but none in New York.
The announcement comes as beaches are expected to see a surge of visitors between the start of summer vacation now that schools across the island are out and ahead of the July Fourth holiday weekend.
State officials said a woman, 20, was swimming in waist-deep water at Jones Beach when she was most likely bitten by a young sand tiger shark, last Wednesday, June 25.
The incident has both lifeguards and beachgoers on high alert.
News 12 reached out early this morning to Blakeman's office for more specifics on the safety enforcement as well as to state officials for safety at state-operated beaches, but hasn't heard back from either at this time.
Blakeman's announcement is scheduled to take place at Nickerson Beach at 1:15 p.m.