16 sharks in a few days: The NYPD's solution to the danger threatening bathers
Sharks were spotted within a few days off the coast of New York, leading to nearly 50 beach closures since the start of the season. Now, the city police are operating a fleet of drones that broadcast real-time video from the air and warn lifeguards when they spot suspicious silhouettes in the water. "The lifeguard is constantly yelling 'Shark!'" describe bathers who are adapting to the new reality.
In New York, authorities are dealing with an increase in shark activity along the coastline in a unique way — with the help of drones. According to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, 16 sharks were spotted off Rockaway Beach between July 1 and July 5. Drones from the New York Police Department (NYPD) located seven of them, according to an ABC 7 report.
The drones provide real-time aerial surveillance and allow for the rapid activation of alerts to get swimmers out of the water when sharks approach popular swimming areas. Police notify lifeguards when shark presence is detected, according to CBS News.
NYPD drone patrols are operated during lifeguard hours at a distance of about 90 meters from selected city beaches. Rockaway Beach, where the program began three years ago, has seen the most shark activity.
Officers watch live feeds from screens installed in trucks and use zoom to distinguish between sharks and dolphins, or schools of fish. "It's a pretty dark silhouette. So that's a telltale sign," said Detective Jorge Bravo, adding that operators sometimes have to zoom in to confirm the animal's identity, according to NY1 News.
"The lifeguard shouted 'Shark!'"
Authorities have temporarily closed swimming waters at beaches repeatedly this season as the number of sightings has risen. Nearly 50 closures have been imposed so far this summer after lifeguards and drone operators reported sharks near swimmers, according to CBS News. If more than one shark is seen, the entire beach is closed.
Closures remain in effect for at least an hour since the last confirmed sighting. "It's a tool that we just love, we believe in it. It helps keep people safe," said Detective Bravo, according to CBS News.
On the coastline, swimmers and surfers say the warnings are now a familiar part of summer. "The lifeguard, he's constantly yelling, 'Shark, shark!'" said one visitor. Surfers describe close encounters with sharks at city beaches. "I saw one two weeks ago, it swam between me and another surfer. It was a big shark," said surfer Mike Zuska. "It's their home," he added in a conversation with CBS News.
Even if there has been a temporary increase in non-fatal incidents off the coast of Long Island and New York in recent years, shark bites are still rare on city beaches. Over more than 150 years until 2022, twelve unprovoked bites were documented.
