Boaters along the South Shore say that restoring full Coast Guard operations at Jones Beach would improve safety, especially at Jones Inlet. This is one of Long Island’s busiest and most challenging waterways, following a recent commitment secured by U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen.
At a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing last month, Gillen, the vice ranking member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, pressed Coast Guard Commandant Kevin E. Lunday on reductions to Station Jones Beach’s capabilities in 2024 due to staffing and funding shortages.
“I’m deeply concerned about the impact of those changes,” Gillen said during the hearing, noting that the station was among 19 nationwide affected by a force realignment initiative that reduced operations, including year-round search-and-rescue coverage.
Lunday said the Coast Guard was working toward restoring staffing levels, which could bring rescue operations back to Nassau County year-round.
“We have a plan to be able to move, if supported in the [fiscal year] 2027 budget request, to move [Coast Guard personnel] out to those small boat stations, and that’ll help us restore the operating posture,” Lunday said. “I look forward to getting back to you … including the prioritization of Jones Beach.”
For boaters who regularly navigate waters off Jones Beach, the potential restoration is welcome news.
“Jones Inlet is one of the busiest boating inlets on Long Island, and anything that improves boater safety is of importance,” Michael Caruso, publisher and owner of The Fisherman magazine, who boats in the area, said. “Restoring a fully operational Coast Guard will likely result in lives saved.”
An enhanced Coast Guard presence, Caruso added, provides reassurance when conditions change unexpectedly, and deters unsafe boating practices.
“Having a fully operational Coast Guard is like a security blanket for boaters — it makes people more comfortable being out there, knowing help is available especially when conditions can change quickly,” he said.
At the same time, Caruso emphasized that safety on the water depends heavily on individual responsibility. “There’s no substitute for experienced, responsible and common-sense boating,” he said. You need to understand weather, tides, currents, basic navigation, rules of the road, and the limitation of your vessel and your own comfort level before venturing out.”
Gillen also raised concerns about boating safety at the hearing, pressing Lunday on how increased federal investment could reduce accidents and fatalities. She noted the 2005 death of 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck, who was killed in a boating crash off Long Island involving an unlicensed operator.
The Coast Guard has received billions of dollars in funding in recent years, and reported one of its strongest recruitment years in more than three decades in 2025, developments that Gillen said could help restore operations at stations like Jones Beach.
Caruso pointed out that safety education requirements have already improved conditions on the water. “The requirement for all boaters to complete a boater safety course has really improved the knowledge level of people on the water,” he said.
Still, given the heavy traffic and unpredictable conditions in Jones Inlet, many say that a strong Coast Guard presence remains critical.
“Boating and fishing are a top recreation on Long Island,” Caruso said. “Any investment that can enhance the capabilities of the Coast Guard and public safety is the kind of investment I’m 100 percent in on.”
