‘Beaches will be open’: How cities are keeping July 4 swimmers safe from a ‘Jaws’ nightmare
Drones deployed to help curb shark attacks
- New York has ramped up shark surveillance for the Fourth of July weekend, deploying more drones and increasing patrols after a woman sustained minor injuries from a bite.
- Governor Kathy Hochul announced the addition of six drones, bringing the state's total to nearly 30, to monitor beaches for sharks and schools of fish.
- Beachgoers in New York are advised to stay in shallow water, avoid murky areas or schools of fish, and refrain from swimming at dawn, dusk, or night.
- Other shark incidents have occurred down the East Coast in South Carolina and Florida, with Florida consistently recording the highest number of unprovoked bites annually.
- Experts state that shark bites are rare, often due to mistaken identity or proximity to prey, and advise following lifeguard instructions while noting humans kill significantly more sharks than vice versa.