Daily Beach Flights

Coastal Surveillance Flights for Floatable Debris and Remote Sensing for Algal Blooms

Coastal surveillance flights are conducted six days a week during the summer season, weather permitting, in order to get a visual assessment of coastal water and beach conditions. This aerial surveillance of the coast and bathing beaches allows DEP to determine the extent of potential hazards such as floatable debris, sewer line breaks or fish kills. In addition, the aircraft are equipped with chlorophyll a sensors that provide DEP with information on chlorophyll levels in coastal waters and allow the early detection of potential algal blooms. Increased chlorophyll a levels are not necessarily harmful to human health but can give the Bureau information on where to target more intensive boat sampling. Click here to view coastal flight paths and chlorophyll a information.