The heat wasn't the only thing New Yorkers were trying to escape this Fourth of July weekend, as shark sightings along the Rockaways prompted beach closures. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry, and the parks department utilized drones to spot the aquatic visitors, leading to sections of the beach being closed off daily from Thursday to yesterday, Gothamist reported.
Seen prowling near the shoreline, a shark on Saturday was reported "just 100 feet" from swimmers at Beach 113th Street, revealed in a tweet by Daughtry. The NYPD confirmed another sighting last week, according to CBS News New York, with an FDNY drone spotting a single shark causing a stretch from Beach 83rd Street to 106th to close temporarily. While these oceanic encounters are unnerving, there were no injuries reported.
Rockaway's beaches experienced temporary closures as a result of these sightings, particularly on Sunday at Beach 102nd Street, with surrounding areas closed to swimmers as a precaution. "From the sky to the surf, we are constantly patrolling with drones to detect both shark activity and distressed swimmers. This is how we stay ahead of danger—and keep New Yorkers safe," said Daughtry, committed to vigilant monitoring.
Despite the closures and sightings, officials reassured the public. Shark encounters are statistically low risk, with only 28 confirmed shark bites in the country last year. Even so, after a woman on Long Island's Jones Beach sustained "minor lacerations" from a suspected juvenile sand tiger shark bite in June, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an increase in drone patrols over beaches, Gothamist noted. "I feel like it's a risk you always take, but, you know, when they say there's sharks in the water, then I'm definitely not going in," beachgoer Dylan Lipscomb told CBS News New York, echoing the sentiment felt by many.
As the weekend progressed, Rockaway Beach was reopened yesterday with officials poised to close any areas necessary as new sightings arose. Mayor Eric Adams' administration has made technological strides, implementing drones not just for shark detection but for building inspections and protest monitoring as well, a move reflecting an era where technology and public safety are increasingly intertwined.
