NEW YORK — The summer season and opening of beaches is just around the corner and Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled New York measures to protect bathers from sharks on the beaches of Long Island State Park.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Police will increase surveillance, including drone, boat and helicopter monitoring along the State Park Beaches of Long Island.
These measures build on actions to address and improve bather safety with an increase in shark sightings last summer.
“With New Yorkers and visitors preparing to enjoy our beautiful Long Island beaches all summer long, your safety is our top priority,” said Governor Hochul. “This year we are taking further steps to protect beachgoers by increasing vigilance for shark activity near South Shore beaches. I encourage all New Yorkers to listen to local authorities, follow instructions and take precautions.” to ensure a safe and responsible beach trip this summer.”
A tiger shark attacked a fisherman’s kayak off the coast of Hawaii on Saturday, May 13. To see more from Telemundo, visit
Expanded surveillance capabilities this summer include:
- Ten more additional drones that will double the eight currently in operation.
- A new drone assigned to the Park Police, which is a large company drone with thermal imaging, laser rangefinder and high quality cameras to enable night surveillance and patrols in bad weather conditions. This drone can also drop personal flotation devices in emergency situations.
- Currently, 21 staff members, including park police officers, state park operational staff, lifeguards, and certified drone operators, are trained. An additional 12 staff members will be trained by the 4th of July holiday weekend.
- State Parks Environmental Educators Conduct Public Outreach on Shark Habitats for People at Jones Beach, Robert Moses and Sunken Meadow This Summer
- Two new Yamaha WaveRunners have been assigned to lifeguards to patrol Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks. These two personal watercraft will join one already in operation at Sunken Meadow State Park.
- Additional buffer zones will be created between bathing areas and surf fishing areas.
When sightings do occur, New York State Police Aviation will be available to respond as needed.
Shark sighting response
After a confirmed shark sighting in the vicinity of a state park beach, the following actions are taken:
- Swimming is suspended after a sighting.
- It is allowed to resume swimming at least one hour after the last sighting.
- All sightings are referred to the Long Island Coastal Awareness Group, which consists of more than 200 people from municipalities, agencies and private beach operators stretching from Queens to Long Island.
- State park lifeguards continually scan and patrol the waters for shark activity.
To minimize the risk of interactions with sharks, The Department of Environmental Conservation recommends the following shark safety guide:
- Avoid areas with seals.
- Avoid areas with schools of fish, splashing fish, or diving seabirds.
- Avoid swimming at dusk, night and dawn.
- Avoid cloudy water.
- Swim, paddle and surf in a group.
- Stay close to the shore, where your feet can touch the bottom.
- Always follow the instructions of the lifeguards and Parks staff.
A 13-year-old teenager recounted the experience she lived after being attacked by a shark on a beach in St. Lucie last Thursday.
2023-05-17 23:13:30
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