New York expands drone fleets to monitor beaches for sharks

New York state officials are providing funding for additional drones to monitor downstate beaches following a series of shark attacks off NYC and Long Island weekend and vacation spots, and the frenzy of news coverage those produced.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the reinforcement of drone assets provided to New York City and Long Island municipalities after five shark incidents were reported at beaches over the extended July 4th weekend. 

Those followed earlier scares or injuries that some observers contend have not been considerably higher on average than normal years, but which generated world-wide media attention that served to increase public fear nevertheless.

Under Hochul’s initiative, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will distribute what where were described as “dozens of drones” as part of the UAV shark monitoring operation it has overseen in…