Sharks are arriving for NY’s 4th of July holiday, but this new tech is keeping bites at bay
Drones are key at keeping shark attacks down on Long Island
- US News
- World News
- Page Six
- Sports
- Post Sports+
- Sports Betting
- Business
- Opinion
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Lifestyle
- Health
- Real Estate
- Alexa
- Media
- Tech
- Science
- Astrology
- Video
- Photos
- Pod Force One
- NY POSTcast
Switch between CA and NY editions here.
EditionRecommended
Skip to main contentShop now
Prime Day ends tonight! Score these last-minute deals MetroSharks are arriving for NY’s 4th of July holiday, but this new tech is keeping bites at bay
By Katherine Donlevy Published June 26, 2026, 12:04 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GoogleThese guys are keeping some unwelcome guests from the 4th of July party.
A surge of sharks is making it’s annual pilgrimage to New York’s beaches — but drones in the sky are working hard to stop the big fish from feasting on swimmers.
The advanced technology has been hovering above the coast and monitoring the prehistoric predators as they increasingly frequent shores from Rockaway Beach to Montauk.
4
“If you look, you shall find. We’re using that technology in the name of public safety to help prevent something from happening. The likelihood is really, really slim, but it can happen,” Cary Epstein, a lifeguard supervisor who pilots drones at Jones Beach.
“Don’t be confused — people need to know that there is a generic risk of going in the ocean. Usually, people don’t get eaten by sharks, but on occasion, accidents do happen and things do happen. You are entering their house.”
Explore More
American boy, 12, attacked by shark while swimming at Bahamas resort
Terrifying moment huge great white shark hunts paddleboarders off California
Drone footage captures massive shark circling surfer in terrifying moment off California beach
Shark bites have plummeted since the bloody summers of 2022 and 2023 — during which there were 13 reported encounters on the south shore, including five in a particularly gory three-week period.
That scary number dropped to just one incident last summer — with the victim suffering such minor injuries that it took a full-fledged investigation to determine that the cuts similar to one gained from “stepping on a sharp shell” actually came from a juvenile tiger shark, said Epstein.
4
The shrinking could be thanks to the Empire State seriously beefing up its anti-shark monitoring tools in recent years, with Gov. Hochul this year upping Long Island’s fleet to 46 drones and 67 drone operators.
Epstein and his crew send the tiny aircraft to the skies a minimum of three times per day.
Since spotting an actual shark in the murky waters is like “looking for a needle in a haystack,” operators are instead trying to locate large, swirling pods of bunker fish, a favorite shark delicacy, which are a clear indicator the predators may be nearby.
Once the swarms of bait fish are spotted, lifeguards will move bathers away from the potential feeding frenzy and keep the area clear until it has moved.
“The reality is the sharks are not swimming to the beaches because they know it’s July 4th weekend and they’re looking for a human snack … If there’s a big pod of bunker and it’s close to the swimming area and if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and a shark is having a buffet — you could accidentally get in the way,” explained Epstein.
4
There have not been any shark sightings at state-run beaches so far this summer, but experts expect that to change around next week.
The big fish typically show up on the stretch of shores from the Rockaways to Montauk around July 4, which is when the waters warm up for the cold-blooded hunters and their scaly prey.
Despite the good track record over the past few years, it’s nearly impossible for experts to promise any status quo for the ancient fish.
“It’s unpredictable what’s going to happen this season,” said Frank Quevedo, an environmental scientist and executive director of the South Fork Natural History Museum.
4
“That’s what makes scientific research so interesting and intriguing and exciting — there’s still so many answers that we don’t know about.”
Weather, water temperatures and, most importantly, food availability determine where sharks spend their summers — and the warming planet is driving the species closer to New York. Successful conservation efforts also mean that there are more of the beasts.
But Quevedo warns bathers not to be intimidated, emphasizing that shark “encounters” are typically accidental.
“They’re definitely not attacks. They’re experimental bites, if anything … Don’t forget, the only way a shark can catch its prey is by opening its mouth and trying to catch it with its teeth,” the scientist explained.
“We can’t blame the sharks for doing that. The sharks are just looking to feed on and survive. If we’re in that habitat where we’re in their way, we may have an incident with a shark.”
Filed under Read Next Pelosi's would-be successor faces radical reality of Calif...Trending Now on NYPost.com
-
This story has been shared 52,765 times.
52,765
Hoarder parents accused of murder, ‘terrible neglect’ of obese son, 7, who died weighing 255 pounds
-
This story has been shared 37,839 times.
37,839
You won’t believe the stars who showed up for USA-Turkey battle at 2026 World Cup
-
This story has been shared 36,884 times.
36,884
Dad of three dies after he’s restrained for allegedly attacking passenger and flight attendant
-
This story has been shared 29,947 times.
29,947
Mets fire Carlos Mendoza as disaster season finally sees change
Listen Now
Most Commented Join the conversation
-
This story has 4K comments.
4K
Woman who emptied Knicks trashcan on street — then stole it — is fired from JPMorgan Chase, was DEI exec
-
This story has 1.8K comments.
1.8K
Lefty owner of anti-Israel NYC coffee shop calls US ally ‘Nazi Germany of our time’ in hateful online outburst
-
This story has 1.6K comments.
1.6K
Mamdani-backed lefties sweep NYC congressional primaries — as socialist mayor’s influence grows to DC
Columnists
-
Charles Gasparino
Legendary NYC restaurateur launching private club — where the food will be a main attraction
-
Lydia Moynihan
World Cup fans furious they were bused to post-Knicks chaos after hours stuck in tunnel, while Mamdani zipped through
See All Columnists
Page Six Style
-
Millie Bobby Brown trades Cinderella corset gown for totally sheer separates at ‘Enola Holmes’ premiere
-
Bethenny Frankel calls this bronzer ‘better than’ Chanel, but it’s on sale for just $16
-
Elizabeth Hurley has used this anti-aging serum ‘twice a day’ for three decades, and it’s 30% off
Now on Page Six
-
‘Summer House’ alum Danielle Olivera shares first photo of baby in NICU after giving birth 10 weeks early
-
Andy Cohen breaks down over ‘beloved’ Bravo crew member’s tragic death at 28 on ‘WWHL’
-
Brad Pitt’s legal wins keep coming as Angelina Jolie winery battle rages on
Video
More Stories
Page Six
‘Jersey Shore’ star Jenni ‘JWoww’ Farley snubs 2 ‘blindsided’ co-stars from surprise wedding: report
Decider
Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Sheep Detectives’ on Amazon Prime Video, a Surprisingly Substantive Talking-Sheep Kiddie Murder Mystery
NYPost
Hoarder parents accused of murder, ‘terrible neglect’ of obese son, 7, who died weighing 255 pounds
© 2026 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Subscription Terms Privacy Notice SitemapYour California Privacy Rights
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
