World News
Sydney beaches expand drone patrols to bolster swimmer confidence after shark attacks
A 34 million dollar New South Wales initiative provides year-round, dawn-to-dusk drone monitoring at 70 beaches to spot marine hazards.
The short version
- New South Wales has expanded its year-round, dawn-to-dusk drone monitoring program to 70 beaches, including 38 in Sydney, to mitigate shark risks following recent high-profile attacks.
- The initiative includes Coogee beach, where drone surveillance was previously barred due to its proximity to airport flight paths but was fast-tracked under special permission after a severe shark attack in June.
- While experts view drones as the best available non-lethal technology to restore public confidence, they warn of limitations such as reduced visibility on windy days.
Key facts
- The New South Wales government's 34 million dollar shark mitigation initiative, rolled out on July 1, provides year-round, dawn-to-dusk drone monitoring across 70 beaches.[The Guardian]
- Drone surveillance was recently permitted at Sydney's Coogee beach following a June shark attack on 34-year-old teacher Leah Stewart, which resulted in the amputation of her left arm.[The Guardian]
- Coogee beach was previously barred from drone surveillance because it sits directly underneath the flight path from Sydney airport's east-west runway, but flights are now allowed under special permission.[The Guardian]
- Since the July 1 rollout, the NSW government reported more than 750 shark sightings and over 200 intervention actions taken by Surf Life Saving NSW.[The Guardian]
- Shark listening stations are currently tracking 1,698 white sharks, 938 tiger sharks, and 374 bull sharks, which are the species most frequently linked to serious bites.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- University of Sydney shark policy expert Christopher Pepin-Neff warned that without a large public education campaign, the rise in drone-prompted shark sightings could unnecessarily panic the public.[The Guardian]