Countries worldwide facing shark encounters are turning to drones for enhanced safety measures at public beaches. However, Nova Scotia authorities have indicated no immediate plans to implement drone technology for shark detection. Paul D’Eon, the longstanding director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, acknowledged the use of drones by lifeguards in Australia and the United States but stated that his service is not actively considering adopting this technology at present.
The Department of Natural Resources, responsible for overseeing the province’s public beaches, did not disclose any intentions to invest in aerial shark surveillance using drones. Lynette Macleod, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed that drones are not currently utilized in the province. The lifeguard service diligently monitors 24 public beaches across Nova Scotia for eight hours a day, seven days a week, especially during the summer months when great white sharks migrate into the region’s warmer waters.
Despite a slight rise in shark sightings, D’Eon emphasized that drone deployment is deemed unnecessary based on his 52 years of beach safety experience in Nova Scotia, during which no shark attacks have occurred. While shark fin sightings previously led to beach closures every few years, the frequency has now increased to around two closures annually. D’Eon stressed the lifeguard service’s continuous monitoring of safety factors affecting beachgoers but currently does not advocate for the province’s investment in drones.
In contrast, New South Wales in Australia has been utilizing drones for beach surveillance since 2015, with recent funding boosts amounting to $34 million to enhance shark-spotting drone capabilities following a series of shark attacks. Lifeguards in New South Wales spotted sharks 73 times within the first two days of the expanded drone program.
Moreover, New York State and the New York City Police Department have incorporated a fleet of shark-detection drones, with the state allocating an additional $322,000 towards this technology earlier this year. In Nova Scotia, a recent shark sighting at Martinique Beach prompted a new protocol involving a two-hour beach closure. Beach visitors expressed varying opinions on the potential use of lifeguard-operated drones, with some highlighting the perceived safety benefits, while others questioned the necessity and cost-effectiveness of such measures.
Overall, while discussions on drone implementation for enhanced beach safety persist in various regions globally, Nova Scotia currently maintains its stance of not utilizing drones for shark detection despite the evolving landscape of coastal safety measures.
