Drones Help Keep New York’s Beaches Safe from Sharks

New York’s coastline is benefiting from cleaner and warmer waters. While this is good news for the environment, it does come with a downside.

The increase in bait fish populations due to warmer and cleaner waters attracts larger predatory fish like sharks. While this is a positive sign for the environment, it poses challenges for humans. To address this issue, safety officials at a New York beach are using drones to monitor and mitigate potential human-shark interactions.

Jones Beach, a state park along Long Island’s southern coast, is the main focus of this drone-based monitoring initiative. Lifeguards and New York State Park Police officers use drones to keep an eye on the waters near the shore. If sharks or unusual sea life activity is detected, they can quickly alert swimmers to stay out of the water. Although the program started in 2017, it has gained renewed importance following a series of shark bites at New York beaches during the summer of 2023. While the risk of shark bites remains low, a 65-year-old woman was recently hospitalized after a shark bite at Rockaway Beach in Queens. As a result, lifeguards at Jones Beach temporarily closed the water three times due to possible shark sightings, two of which were discovered using drones.

The New York State Park Police currently operates a fleet of 19 drones stationed along Jones Beach. Lifeguards use these drones with the support of officers who have access to a live stream of drone footage in a mobile command center. This allows them to assess the situation and decide whether swimmers should be evacuated if sharks or other dangers are present.

While implementing the program incurs costs, officials believe it is worth it to protect beachgoers. The less advanced drones used by lifeguards cost around $9,200 per kit, and operators must be trained in Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Park Police Captain Rishi Basdeo stated, “I can’t predict whether or not there’s going to be more bites or shark attacks, but what I can tell you is … the more drones that are flying in the air, there’s more of a chance of seeing these animals in their natural habitat.” He added, “Just by merely warning people, that in itself is [paying] dividends.” Plus, he noted, “It’s actually cheaper than calling in a police helicopter.”

According to Basdeo, the drones provide an excellent real-time aerial view of water conditions. If a shark is detected within 120 meters of the shore, authorities immediately consider closing the water to ensure safety. Basdeo explained, “If a shark is in close proximity to the bathing area—or even before we get schools [of fish] there—we are already making that decision… and the lifeguards will stop people from swimming and just safely guide people out of the water.”

During a recent demonstration of the drone tracking program, the cameras primarily captured skate fish near the shore. However, these drones have previously recorded footage of sharks swimming alone and feeding on schools of fish. The drones can also be equipped with infrared cameras, spotlights, and speakers, making them valuable assets for search and rescue operations. They can even deliver a life preserver to a distressed swimmer faster than a lifeguard could reach them. Basdeo stated, “Five years ago, we didn’t have this drone capability in our agency, but now it’s spreading and it’s catching on.” However, there are guidelines for using the drones. Basdeo mentioned, “We’re on strict guidelines when we fly and operate these drones. It is not used to surveil the public. It is used to keep them safe. We don’t fly, or we try not to fly, over large groups of people.”

New York is not the only place using drones for shark monitoring. Australia’s New South Wales, South Africa, Southern California, Reunion Island, and Brazil are among the locations where drones are used to enhance beach safety and protect beachgoers from sharks. These drone programs serve different objectives, including public safety, scientific research, and shark conservation, and they continue to evolve to ensure coexistence between humans and sharks while safeguarding beach visitors.