Scared of sharks? We hear you. But if you ask us, shark nets aren’t the answer – responsible for the deaths of hundreds of harmless creatures every year. This summer, the NSW Government is giving shark-fearing ocean swimmers and surfers an early Christmas present – arriving by air. From Saturday December 13, more drones will take to the skies over the state’s coastline, clocking longer hours and covering more beaches than ever before, thanks to a $2.5 million boost to the state’s shark mitigation program.
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The extra funding will fast-track Surf Life Saving NSW’s drone patrols, with patrols over 32 beaches kicking off a week early, and a total of 50 beaches set to be monitored by air by December 20. Over the Christmas peak, drones will fly every day from Tweed to Bega, scanning the water for fins and giving lifesavers a real-time aerial view of what’s cruising beneath the waves. Patrols have also been extended right through to March 29, meaning your late-summer swims get the same level of sky-high vigilance. According to the NSW Government, this is one of the most comprehensive, evidence-backed shark safety systems in the world.
Since surfers are at the most risk from shark attacks, special attention is being paid to key surfing spots across the state. The Government is partnering with Surfing NSW to deliver new drones and training to boardrider clubs between Newcastle and Wollongong – a move shaped, in part, by the family of Mercury Psillakis, who tragically died after a shark attack at Dee Why in September.
On the sand, first-aid capability is getting a serious upgrade too. The state is tripling the rollout of Community Shark Bite Kits, adding 150 more to unpatrolled and remote beaches. Created by Port Macquarie surfer Danny Schouten – whose friend Kai McKenzie survived a serious attack in 2024 – the kits include tourniquets, compression bandages, thermal blankets and clear instructions designed for high-pressure moments when seconds matter.
Alongside the tech, summer will see an all-out SharkSmart awareness blitz. Expect QR-coded posters at every coastal LGA, pop-up info sessions delivered by the SharkSmart van and trailer, and improvements to the SharkSmart app so you can check tagged shark movements, beach conditions and safety tips before you dive in. It’s all part of a program that already includes 305 ‘SMART’ (Shark Management Alert in Real Time) drumlines across 19 LGAs, nets stretching from Newcastle to Wollongong, and a network of listening stations that send instant alerts when tagged sharks are in the area.
With 18,027 drone flights completed last summer alone, spotting everything from bull sharks to white pointers, the take-away is pretty clear: more eyes in the sky means more time in the water. And with more drones meaning less need for nets, it's good news all round.
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