Spoiler alert! We’re talking about sharks again.
But like we said recently, they seem to be everywhere these days. And today is Shark Awareness Day, after all.
This afternoon, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the distribution of shark-monitoring drones to enhance safety for beachgoers and surfers. The press conference was reminiscent of the scene in Jaws where the chief announces his plan to “use shark spotters on the beach.”
Starting around three minutes into the video above, the governor explains that the drones will cover the coastal areas of Long Island, New York City, and Westchester County.
The decision comes on the heels of an increase of shark enounters on Long Island in recent years. For instance, in early July there were two shark attacks in one day at Long Island beaches.
During the press conference, the governor said that in 2012, New York had only one shark enounter. A decade later, that number was up to eight.
The drones are considered an “eye in the sky” response to prevent beachgoers from shark attacks.
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation also released tips to “minimize risk of shark interactions.”
With tips like staying close to shore, avoiding murky water and being in the ocean at dawn and dusk, they don’t sound realistic for surfers. We’ll just have to hope for the best.
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