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NYPD Uses Drones to Monitor Shark Activity and Enhance Beach Safety

The New York Police Department's Technical Assistance Response Unit is utilizing high-resolution drones to monitor city beaches, providing lifeguards with an aerial view of sharks and marine life. This technology allows officers to spot sharks before they approach swimmers, offering a precautionary line of defense. For example, off Rockaway Beach, drones helped identify seven of the 16 sharks spotted between July 1 and July 5. Detective Jorge Bravo, a member of the drone team, noted that the drones' zoom capabilities allow for clear identification of shark silhouettes. When a shark is detected, the Parks Department closes the beach for at least one hour. The drones also feature inflatable flotation devices that can be dropped to swimmers in distress. While shark sightings are increasing along the Northeast coast, researchers like Dr. Stephen Kajiura suggest that warming ocean temperatures are expanding the summer range of species like blacktip sharks. Despite these shifts, experts emphasize that shark encounters remain rare, and the drones provide an essential layer of protection for beachgoers.

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