Following a series of shark incidents off New York's coast, authorities have implemented drone surveillance to monitor Long Island's waters. Five shark bites were reported at popular beaches earlier this week, prompting increased patrols. The Suffolk County Police Department announced enhanced shark patrols, utilizing drones for aerial observation, in response to these and other incidents.
The department advised beachgoers to remain alert while swimming and to calmly exit the water and notify a lifeguard or official if a shark or a school of bunker fish (which attract sharks) is spotted.
State park director George Gorman emphasized increased vigilance, highlighting the use of drones and lifeguards on WaveRunners for monitoring the waters. A 10-foot shark sighting at Robert Moses State Park on Thursday led to temporary restrictions on water access.
Data from the University of Florida reveals that New York had the second highest number of unprovoked shark bites in the US last year. While serious injuries have been avoided, the rise in incidents is a concern, especially given New York's historically low number of such occurrences before 2022.
The US experienced the highest number of unprovoked shark bites in 2022, with 41 confirmed cases, though this is a decrease from the 2021 figures.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently increased the number of drones used for surveillance to 18. At Jones Beach, drone sweeps are conducted three times daily. Approximately a dozen shark species are known to inhabit the waters off Long Island. Initial fears of sand sharks near Robert Moses State Park on July 4, based on drone footage, were later dismissed by the New York State Parks Department, which identified the creatures as a different fish species.
Sand sharks are generally considered unlikely to attack humans unless provoked. The increased shark sightings are potentially indicative of a healthier ecosystem, with cleaner waters supporting a thriving population of small fish, which serve as a food source for sharks.
