As Drones Spot Sharks, New York Beaches Are Shut Down

A series of shark sightings has forced officials to repeatedly close parts of Rockaway Beach in recent days, leaving New York beachgoers temporarily land-bound at the height of the Fourth of July weekend, officials said.

The sightings, which began on Tuesday, arrived as city and state officials stepped up use of technology to locate and track sharks on beaches in Queens and on Long Island.

As visitors descended for the holiday, traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year, the technology helped to keep swimmers safe, city officials said. But it also seemed to contribute to an unusual number of shark sightings: at least eight in less than a week. Under city and state protocol, the beaches were closed each time, making for an occasionally stressful weekend at the shore, swimmers said.

“We’ve always surfed in harmony with them,” said Kate Leddington, a longtime surfer who recently moved to Charlottesville, Va., after years in Brooklyn and was on the beach at Rockaway on Saturday. “There’s sharks out there always — it’s just now they’re using drones to see them.”

On Wednesday, in preparation for the holiday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that state agencies now have 28 camera-equipped drones to search for sharks, as well as 48 trained drone operators. State and city protocol dictates that when a shark sighting is confirmed, swimming cannot resume until at least one hour later. Beachgoers can remain on the sand during that time.

The city, which oversees Rockaway Beach, has a fleet of its own drones operated by the Police and Fire Departments and the emergency management office. Once an alien sight at the beach, the devices have become nearly as commonplace as Jet Skis.