Cutting-Edge Shark Spotting Drones To Be Used at Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Beaches

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A modern fleet of shark-spotting drones will soon patrol 34 beaches across the NSW coastline, including two in Hunter, with the NSW Government today announcing a new $8 million strategy to protect beachgoers from sharks.

 The 2020/21 NSW Shark strategy will see drones, which can detect the size and species of a shark, patrolling Birubi Beach in Port Stephens and Redhead beach in Lake Macquarie. 

“Drone technology has advanced dramatically in recent years, with the devices now able to fly thousands of kilometres, automatically detect the size and species of a shark as well as provide surf lifesaving assistance to distressed swimmers," Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said 

“Under the new program we will continue to deploy 35 SMART Drumlines along the north coast, which will provide ongoing protection to beachgoers and advance what is currently the largest shark tagging program in the world."

“These measures will be complemented by 21 shark detection stations along the coast as well as ongoing shark meshing on 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong."

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce welcomed the announcement. 

“The benefits have been readily evident with this increased aquatic surveillance capability, which has resulted in a multitude of warnings issued to swimmers and surfers about nearby marine life,” Mr Pearce said.

“An added benefit has also been the ability of our pilots to identify swimmers in distress, while conducting these surveillance flights, enabling a speedy response by our lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers that has undoubtedly saved lives.”