Drones boost NSW beach safety
NSW Government Expands Year-Round Drone Surveillance to 70 Beaches, Enhancing Shark Safety
Key Points
Leah Stewart, the Coogee Beach attack victim, had her arm amputated and spent a week on life support; a fundraiser for her medical care and family has raised more than $500,000.
The expansion will cover about 70 beaches across NSW, including at least one beach in every coastal local government area, with year-round coverage from Palm Beach to Cronulla.
The Guardian describes the NSW drone rollout as the world's largest aerial shark surveillance program.
Drones will use AI-driven thermal imaging to identify shark movements in real time, with detections transmitted directly to lifeguards for action.
Environmental groups have cautioned that the long-term ecological effects of drone surveillance on sharks are not yet understood and have urged greater transparency from authorities.
New South Wales will launch the world's largest year-round aerial shark surveillance program on July 1, expanding drone patrols to about 70 beaches across the state in a $34 million investment, The Guardian reported. The move follows a great white shark attack on teacher Leah Stewart at Coogee Beach on June 13, which left her without an arm and on life support for a week.
Premier Chris Minns said the goal is to put "more eyes in the sky so we can spot sharks earlier." He was clear that "no one can ever promise no shark interactions" but argued the expanded coverage would give swimmers a "clear heads-up." Sydney's ocean beaches will grow from 26 monitored sites to 38, with at least one drone-equipped beach in every coastal local government area across NSW.
Coogee Attack Drives Political Pressure to Act
Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old teacher, was swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach on June 13 when a great white shark attacked her. She lost her arm and spent a week on life support. Her brother Joshua set up a GoFundMe that has since raised more than $500,000 for her medical care, The Guardian confirmed.
Public anxiety kept building after the attack. A great white sighting at Bondi Beach forced three straight days of closures on June 25. Over 1,000 people held a solidarity swim at Coogee on June 21 to show support for Stewart. The string of incidents pushed Premier Minns to fast-track the drone expansion, announcing it just two weeks after the attack.
AI Drones and Listening Stations Replace Old-School Nets
The new program uses AI-driven thermal imaging to spot sharks in real time from dawn to dusk. When a drone detects a shark, the alert goes directly to lifeguards on the beach. Steve Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, said drones have already identified sharks more than 2,000 times this year alone across 100,000 flights, according to The Guardian.
Two new SharkSmart listening stations will go into Sydney Harbour, bringing the state total to 39. These stations ping the SharkSmart app and lifesavers the moment a tagged shark swims within 500 meters. Illawarra Mercury reported the government is also trialling autonomous "drone-in-a-box" flights from surf club rooftops, which would allow scheduled patrols with no pilot on site.
Shark Nets Slammed as 94% of Catches Are Wrong Animals
NSW has used shark nets at 51 beaches since 1937. But state data shows 94% of animals caught in those nets are not sharks at all — they are turtles, dolphins, and other marine life, according to The Guardian. Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck from Humane World for Animals called the nets "discredited" and "counterproductive," saying they trap baitfish and may actually draw sharks closer to shore.
The government has ruled out culling protected great white sharks. Officials say drones are meant to assist lifeguards, not replace them. A 2021 pilot at 10 test beaches showed an 18% drop in close shark encounters, which the government cites as proof the approach works, Illawarra Mercury noted. The total shark mitigation budget over the next two years sits at $120 million.
Scientists Warn Constant Surveillance Could Spike Beach Closures
Not everyone is convinced the drone army will make beaches safer in practice. Associate Professor Christopher Pepin-Neff from the University of Sydney told The Guardian that AI surveillance is "ambitious and bold" but warned it could lead to sharks being "discussed a lot more across Australian beaches." More sightings reported could mean more closures, which may hurt local businesses and tourism.
Environmental groups backed the drones as a step away from lethal methods. But they urged the government to study how constant drone flights affect shark behavior over the long term. A Murdoch University study from May 2026 found drones don't disturb whale sharks, France 24 reported. Researchers say the impact on predatory species like bull and tiger sharks is still unknown.
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