A shark fin poking out of the water is a telltale sign of trouble for beachgoers. Lifeguards spotted a nine foot long shark about 30 yards into the water and called all visitors back to land on July 15.
“We had a sighting of yet an unwanted friend in the area, a shark,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said in Lido Beach day later. “Our lifeguards do what they do best. They got their residents out of the water to make sure they're safe.”
As the water quality improves on Long Island’s South Shore, more fish return to the area — and with more prey comes more predators.
“A lot of people don't realize, in the last decade, we have had more sightings in two years than the previous 10,” Clavin said.
At Town Park Point Lookout, Clavin gave an update about safety protocols and shark sightings, explaining how the town aims to keep its waters safe for the summer.
“Our lifeguards are special,” he said. “They're not only trained in lifeguard saving techniques and CPR, but they're actually trained now in dorsal fin identification.”
Through an emergency grant request of $10,000 made by Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti, and attained from the county helped the town to add a new shark patrol drone and a Ski-Doo personal watercraft to its existing fleet. These tools will aid the lifeguards to carry out water monitoring and rapid response missions to protect beachgoers in and out of the water.
“I submitted for a grant to increase the amount of jet skis we have on patrol here for the town of Hempstead, lifeguards as well as drones,” said Ferretti, the Republican candidate for town supervisor, running against Democrat Joseph Scianablo. “I think by delivering that vital equipment, we're going to make sure that residents of Nassau County and the town of Hempstead continue to enjoy the wonderful beaches and enjoy the summer.”
Chief Life Guard Mike Romano oversees 36 staff members who watch the waters.
“If they see something immediately, they're going to call ocean base,” he said. “We'll shut the water for up to a half hour to an hour… then we'll plan our day accordingly. We want the patrons to come down, enjoy the beach, the weather and the ocean.”
In addition to increased shark patrols, Clavin said that the town’s pools will be open an hour later, now from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
