In Nova Scotia, officials have no immediate plans to introduce drone technology to monitor shark activity near public beaches, unlike other countries such as Australia and the United States. The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, led by Paul D’Eon, has not actively pursued the adoption of drones for surveillance despite the presence of great white sharks in the province’s waters during the summer months.
While lifeguards in some regions have successfully used drones to detect sharks, the Department of Natural Resources in Nova Scotia has not indicated any intentions to invest in aerial shark surveillance at this time. The lifeguard service currently relies on human monitoring to ensure beach safety, monitoring 24 public beaches daily during the summer season.
D’Eon, with over five decades of beach safety experience, mentioned a slight increase in shark sightings but emphasized that there have been no shark attacks under his watch. Although the frequency of beach closures due to shark sightings has risen in recent years, D’Eon does not see the immediate need for drone technology in Nova Scotia.
In contrast, other regions like New South Wales and New York have already implemented drone monitoring programs to enhance beach safety. Despite calls for drone patrols from beachgoers in Nova Scotia, including swimmers at Martinique Beach, D’Eon currently does not advocate for investing in this technology unless circumstances change significantly.
Head coach Philip Skinder of the Pacific Lifesaving Club supports the idea of using drones for beach safety, highlighting the potential benefits for public safety. While some beach visitors express nervousness due to recent shark sightings, D’Eon advises caution and suggests avoiding specific conditions known to attract sharks to ensure beachgoers’ safety.
Overall, while Nova Scotia is not currently exploring drone technology for shark surveillance, the debate continues among beach safety experts and the public on the potential benefits and considerations of implementing such measures in the future.
