LONG BEACH, CA — A team of California researchers is testing a high-tech shark-surveillance robot that could one day give lifeguards real-time information about great white sharks swimming near some of the state's busiest beaches.
The semi-autonomous prototype, developed by California State University, Long Beach's Shark Lab, is designed to patrol coastal waters for up to a week at a time, collecting information that researchers hope will improve beach safety while giving scientists a better understanding of shark behavior.
The unmanned craft uses acoustic receivers to detect great white sharks fitted with scientific tracking tags. Researchers also plan to equip it with environmental DNA, or eDNA, technology that can identify genetic traces left behind in the water, along with an aerial drone capable of providing a bird's-eye view of conditions offshore.
When fully equipped, the robot is expected to stream live data and 360-degree video to the CSULB Shark Lab and participating lifeguards, allowing them to make more informed decisions about beach operations.
"People often assume a shark sighting means danger, but our research shows sharks are commonly present off California beaches without incident. This technology is about giving lifeguards better information so they can assess conditions, communicate clearly with beachgoers and make informed public safety decisions," Shark Lab Director Christopher Lowe told Patch.
Lowe told the San Jose Mercury News the system is intended to provide information, not alarm beachgoers.
"This is not about 'there's a shark in the water, let's pull everybody out,'" he said. "It's about giving people more information so they can make decisions for themselves."
The approximately 10-foot-long prototype entered testing in Southern California last month. Lowe said the Shark Lab hopes to have the project ready in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, when Long Beach Harbor is expected to host the Olympic triathlon swimming events.
Initial deployments are expected to focus on Southern California locations including Long Beach Harbor, Santa Monica Bay and Huntington Beach before researchers consider expanding the technology elsewhere along the California coast.
The project brings together the CSULB Shark Lab, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and New York University's Center for Robotics with funding from the Seaver Institute.
The announcement comes as marine scientists continue tracking increased shark sightings and other tropical marine species in California waters during this year's unusually warm ocean conditions. Experts stress, however, that encounters between sharks and people remain uncommon.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there have been 236 documented interactions between sharks and people off the California coast since 1950, compared with an estimated 120 million beach visits each year.
Researchers say the surveillance robot is designed to help lifeguards, scientists and beachgoers better understand when sharks are present, rather than discourage people from enjoying California's beaches.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Long Beach Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.