Countries worldwide that are shark hotspots are utilizing drones to identify potential risks near public beaches. However, officials in Nova Scotia have indicated they are not currently considering the use of this technology. Paul D’Eon, the longstanding director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, acknowledged that drones are being used by lifeguards in other countries like Australia and the United States but stated that the service has not actively pursued adopting drones.
The Department of Natural Resources, responsible for overseeing public beaches in the province, has not disclosed any plans to invest in aerial shark surveillance. According to Department spokesperson Lynette Macleod, Nova Scotia does not presently employ drones for monitoring beach areas.
During the summer months, the lifeguard service keeps a watchful eye over 24 public beaches in the province, operating eight hours a day, seven days a week. This is particularly crucial as great white sharks migrate into Nova Scotia’s warmer waters during this period.
D’Eon mentioned that despite a slight increase in shark sightings, there have been no shark attacks in his 52 years of safeguarding Nova Scotian beaches. While shark fin sightings used to prompt beach closures every few years, the frequency has now increased to about two closures annually.
Although the lifeguard service stays vigilant about changing safety dynamics, D’Eon does not currently recommend the province investing in drones. However, he noted that they would reassess the situation if circumstances changed significantly.
In contrast, New South Wales in Australia has been using drones to monitor its beaches since 2015. The government recently bolstered funding for drone patrols by $34 million following a series of shark attacks. Within the first two days of the expanded drone program, lifeguards spotted sharks 73 times, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
In New South Wales, drones continuously monitor 70 beaches year-round, with plans to incorporate artificial intelligence for enhanced shark detection. Similarly, both New York State and the New York City Police Department have embraced shark detection drones, with the state injecting an additional $322,000 into the technology earlier this summer.
Regarding shark sightings at Nova Scotia’s beaches, a recent sighting at Martinique Beach led to a two-hour beach closure as per the current protocol. Beach visitors expressed a desire for lifeguard-operated drones patrolling above the water to enhance safety perceptions. The Vancouver-based Pacific Lifesaving Club’s head coach, Philip Skinder, endorsed the idea, emphasizing the importance of investing in technologies that enhance ocean safety.
Notably, recent shark encounters have left some visitors apprehensive about entering the water. D’Eon advises beachgoers to steer clear of swimming during dawn and dusk and to avoid areas with seals and active fishing to minimize risks.
Overall, while the use of drones for shark surveillance is gaining traction in various regions globally, Nova Scotia officials have not yet pursued this technology for beach safety measures.