Earlier start to shark surveillance on NSW beaches

SURF Life Saving drones will be in the air earlier and for longer this summer as the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) steps up shark surveillance.

The NSW Government has allocated an extra $2.5m for shark management following the recent deaths of a female tourist near Crowdy Bay and a local surfer on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Through the DPI, Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) has delivered shark surveillance across the state for nearly a decade. This year, sweeps of 33 beaches were set to start a week early, on 13 December.

The Hunter and Mid North Coast beaches to have earlier drone surveillance are Fingal Rovers, South West Rocks, Crescent Head, Town Beach Port Macquarie, Lighthouse Beach Port Macquarie, Forster, Fingal Beach, Nobbys and Redhead.

From 20 December, they will be joined by Sawtell, Urunga, Scotts Head, Black Head, Cape Hawke, Tea Gardens Hawks Nest and Birubi Point, which are among the 50 beaches to have daily drone patrols until the end of January.

As part of the increased funding, weekend patrols will then continue at all 50 beaches until 29 March.

SLSNSW CEO Steve Pearce said, “Last summer alone, 50 locations from Tweed to Bega were covered, with drones completing 18,027 flights over 4897 flying hours.

“During that time, 815 sharks were sighted including 41 bull sharks, 45 white sharks and 729 unknown sharks.

“Our lifeguards and lifesavers enacted 115 preventions, including 88 beach evacuations, plus other counter-measures including beach sirens, drone sirens, and tasking Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) and jet skis.”

More than 100 Australian Unarmed Aerial Vehicle pilots (UAVs) will operate the drones.

“Our incredibly talented and highly skilled team is well-placed to deliver a greater scope of service for this summer,” said AUAVS Manager James Bassam.

“To pull together a comprehensive rollout of drone patrols earlier than scheduled, all while pushing boundaries with new innovations and projects, is why Surf Life Saving NSW leads the way in this space.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, said drones have proven to be an effective eye in the sky when it comes to early shark detection and warning beach users.

“This enhancement package is another important step forward in using and expanding their potential along our coastline,” she said.

“A better awareness of sharks and their behaviour can help us all enjoy the beach and reduce the risk of shark interactions.”

As previously reported by News Of The Area, shark bite trauma kits will also be installed on 67 SLSNSW Emergency Response Beacons, in mainly high-risk unpatrolled locations along the coastline.

The kits contain tourniquets, compression bandages and other first aid supplies to treat serious bite injuries, and were the inspiration of Danny Schouten, whose mate Kai McKenzie was attacked by a shark while surfing off Port Macquarie’s North Shore in 2024.

The new funding will also see an extensive community awareness and SharkSmart education program across social media and at coastal communities this summer to promote shark safety tips.

The SharkSmart van and the trailer will both travel up and down the coast and do pop-up sessions at beaches to deliver information and support to beachgoers.

To spread the word on safety even further, QR-coded ‘SharkSmart’ posters will be installed at beaches in every coastal LGA.

There will also be further modifications and improvements to the popular SharkSmart app to further enhance its useability and information for beach goers.