New York is significantly expanding shark monitoring on the beaches of Long Island. According to the New York State Government 46 drones should be available during the peak season. At the same time, the number of certified employees will increase from the current 47 to an expected 67. Lifeguards, park police and other beach personnel search from the air sharks, but also for large schools of fish that can attract predators near the coast.
The expansion initially sounds like a clear security gain. But with every additional camera in the sky, the number of observations also increases. This can give the impression that there are suddenly many more sharks swimming off the beaches. Experts consider this conclusion to be premature: the animals may simply be discovered more often because people are searching for them more intensively.
16 new drones for Long Island’s swimming season
For the 2026 season, New York is adding 16 new devices to its fleet. According to the Guardian, the state invested $322,000 in this. At state park beaches, teams not only observe individual sharks, but also water conditions and aggregations of prey fish. Such a combination can give rescue workers a better overview than observation from the watchtower alone.
If a shark is spotted or an encounter is reported, rescue workers clear the water. Swimming remains prohibited for at least one hour after a confirmed sighting. In addition, the state is informing a coastal group with more than 200 representatives from municipalities, authorities and private beach operators between Queens and Long Island. This means that neighboring beaches can also react quickly.
More sightings do not automatically mean more danger
The Guardian describes a possible feedback loop: Authorities receive more reports, then buy more drones and in turn find more sharks with them. The statistics of sightings are increasing without necessarily increasing the number of animals. At the same time, each new report can influence public perception and increase political pressure for further surveillance.
The development on the Rockaway beaches managed by New York City fits in with this. Since the end of May, shark sightings there led to 23 closures through the beginning of July. At the same time last year there were eleven; In 2024, eleven closures were also counted throughout the year. These numbers show a significant increase in reactions, but in themselves do not prove either more sharks or an increased risk for bathers.
Actual bites remain rare. According to data cited in the Guardian, 65 unprovoked shark bites were documented worldwide in 2025. That was below the most recent ten-year average of 72 cases. The chance of a human being bitten is approximately one in 4.3 million. Such global values do not replace local risk assessments, but they do classify alarming individual reports.
What drones see and what they miss
Drones are comparatively cheap, can be deployed quickly and can search large sections of beach. When the water is clear, sharks can be easily seen near the surface. However, this is precisely where the most important limit lies: in cloudy water, waves or unfavorable light, even an animal can remain invisible only around one and a half meters below the surface.
Monitoring is therefore not a complete early warning system. A drone can provide a specific sighting, but cannot confirm that there is no shark in a hidden section. Experts warn against a false sense of security if bathers confuse the use of the technology with a guarantee.
Other regions combine aerial photography with tagged sharks and acoustic receivers in the water. When a tagged animal approaches, such stations record the time and identity. New York does not yet use this system on its state park beaches. However, receivers only record those sharks that have been previously tagged. No single method can detect all animals.
Security requires technology and a sense of proportion
The crucial question is therefore not whether drones can find sharks – they can – but rather how authorities interpret the images. A confirmed sighting near many swimmers warrants a precautionary evacuation. On the other hand, permanent closures when observations are unclear can increase fear, deter visitors and create the impression that any presence of a shark is an imminent attack.
Sharks are a natural part of New York’s coastal ecosystem. More than 13 migratory species are found in the state’s marine waters. They regulate prey populations and contribute to ecological balance. Their sighting is therefore not only a safety event, but can also be a sign of a living sea.
Simple rules of conduct remain important for bathers: do not swim in schools of fish or between hunting seabirds, avoid cloudy water and dusk, stay in groups and close to the shore and follow the instructions of the rescue services. Drones can support this caution. They do not replace them, nor do they replace experienced beach staff or a sober assessment of the actual risk.