Countries worldwide that are visited by sharks are using drones to monitor the creatures near public beaches. However, officials in Nova Scotia have no immediate plans to implement this technology. 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 currently considering adopting drones.
The Department of Natural Resources, responsible for overseeing the province’s public beaches, did not indicate any intentions to invest in aerial shark surveillance. The lifeguard service, which patrols 24 public beaches in the province for eight hours a day, seven days a week during the summer, does not utilize drones at present. Great white sharks migrate to Nova Scotia’s warm waters annually during the summer months.
D’Eon, with over 50 years of experience safeguarding Nova Scotian beaches, mentioned that there have been no shark attacks during his tenure. However, he noted a slight increase in shark sightings. While shark fin sightings used to prompt beach closures only every few years in the past, it is now more common to witness around two beach closures annually.
Although the lifeguard service keeps a close eye on changing safety factors, D’Eon does not currently recommend the province invest in drones. He stated that if circumstances change, they would reconsider the use of drones.
In contrast, New South Wales in Australia, including Sydney, has been employing drones to monitor its beaches since 2015. The state government recently allocated an additional $34 million for drone patrol funding in June 2026 after a series of shark attacks. According to data from Agence France-Presse, lifeguards detected sharks 73 times in the first two days of the expanded program.
In New South Wales, drones continuously monitor 70 beaches year-round, with plans to introduce artificial intelligence into shark detection. Similarly, both New York State and the New York City Police Department have incorporated a fleet of shark-detecting drones, with the state investing an extra $322,000 in the technology earlier this summer.
Following a shark sighting at Martinique Beach earlier this year, the current protocol involves a two-hour beach closure. Beach visitors expressed their support for the use of lifeguard-operated drones, emphasizing the importance of feeling secure while enjoying the beach.
Philip Skinder, the head coach and director of the Pacific Lifesaving Club in Vancouver, commended the efficient and effective use of funds for drone surveillance. He emphasized the value of investments that enhance ocean safety and provide beachgoers with peace of mind.
Recent shark sightings have left some beach visitors like Amber Beaver feeling uneasy about entering the water. While she believes there may be better ways for the province to allocate funds, she acknowledges that drone surveillance could increase her sense of security.
D’Eon advised beachgoers to stay safe by avoiding swimming during dawn and dusk or near seals and areas with active fishing.
Overall, while Nova Scotia currently does not employ drone technology for shark surveillance on its beaches, the conversation around its potential use continues among officials and beach visitors alike.