NYC Deputy Mayor on Shark Sightings and Drone Technology for Beach Safety

Surge in Shark Activity

• 🦈 Shark sightings in the Rockaways have significantly increased at the beginning of the summer season compared to last year.
• 📍 Last weekend alone, multiple sightings occurred, with one drone spotting a shark near Beach 102nd Street and another just 100 feet from swimmers near Beach 32nd Street.
• 🌊 The Parks Department closed the water from Beach 83rd to 120th Street following a recent drone sighting.

Drone Technology as a Game Changer

• 🚁 Drones from FDNY, NYPD, OEM, and Parks are now continuously monitoring the beaches and waters for anomalies like sharks.
• 💡 This technology is crucial for alerting beachgoers to the presence of sharks, allowing them to return to shore safely.
• 🆘 Drones also act as a life-saving tool for individuals caught in riptides, providing flotation devices and two-way communication to guide swimmers to safety.
• ⏱️ This advanced monitoring system is particularly important during times when lifeguards may be off duty.

Evolution of Shark Detection

• 🔍 Previously, shark detection relied on lifeguards with binoculars scanning for fins.
• 🚀 The current drone technology represents a significant advancement, offering a more comprehensive and effective method for monitoring beach and water safety.

Public Safety and Future Applications

• ⚠️ While experts state the odds of being bitten by a shark are slim, the city's protocol is to clear all swimmers from the water for an hour following a sighting until the shark moves offshore.
• 🏖️ Drones are also used to monitor anomalous activity on the shoreline, responding to incidents like fights.
• ✈️ Future applications include drones on firehouses to provide real-time fire assessment and the development of counter-drone technology to neutralize hostile autonomous drones, a capability the city currently lacks and relies on federal partners for.