Drones for shark monitoring: do they actually make beaches safer?
Experts caution that drones have limited utility for shark surveillance, and the rise in sightings may stem from increased monitoring rather than a real increase in shark numbers near shore.
Despite increased investment in drones for shark monitoring in states like New York, experts say the machines have limited usefulness as a public safety tool and there is no evidence that the threat to swimmers from sharks has grown. Reports of sharks near beaches have risen, but observers note this may be due to more drones hovering over the water, not necessarily more sharks.
Shark attacks remain extremely rare: the odds of being bitten are 1 in 4.3 million, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. In 2025, there were 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide, below the 10-year average of 72.
Drones are effective at spotting sharks on the surface but cannot see them just a few feet below, especially in poor visibility. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, emphasizes that drones are a science tool, not an early warning system. He notes his team has not seen any footage of a shark acting aggressively toward a person in thousands of flights.
New York state has spent significant sums on drones: $1 million in 2023 and an additional $322,000 this year. The state does not use tags or receivers. If a drone spots a shark, lifeguards clear the water. Beach closures have increased, with 23 closures in the Rockaways since late May 2025, compared to 11 in all of 2024.
Experts warn that drones can create a false sense of security, as they cannot detect all sharks. Oversue of closures may also have economic consequences. Australia's New South Wales government recently announced a $34 million initiative to expand shark monitoring, but scientists remain cautious about relying solely on aerial surveillance.
