Shark Sighting Shuts South Shore Beaches — Again

LIDO BEACH, NY — Long Island beaches are becoming a popular destination for not only people, but sharks as well. Another shark sighting off the South Shore on Thursday prompted beach closures.

Lifeguards spotted a shark in the waters of Lido Beach Thursday morning, prompting officials to close the beach to swimming. Those restrictions have since been eased, but bathing is still restricted to "waist-deep only" at Town of Hempstead beaches.

According to Newsday, the 6-foot shark was spotted about 25 yards offshore around 10:45 a.m.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said it marked the 20th confirmed sighting of sharks this season — three more than at the same point last year.

Shark sightings have forced swimmers out of the water across the southern coast of the island all summer. In late July, a lifeguard at Jones Beach reported being bitten by a shark.