Shark-spotting drones to be deployed at NSW beaches after fatal attacks

After a horror few months for swimmers and surfers off NSW beaches, the first phase of a plan to make our waters safer from sharks is being rolled out.

Shark-spotting drones will hopefully make the oceans safer for young surfers such as Jordi Bray, Delilah Amavisca, Gracie Bishop and Barclay Sutcliffe, pictured here at Queenscliff Beach. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

Shark-spotting drones will be deployed to unpatrolled surfing spots, while 200 “bite kits” will be sent to regional beaches, under a $2.5 million Minns government plan following attacks by the predators.

The program’s sudden announcement has been sparked by a horror few months for swimmers off NSW beaches in which one surfer was fatally mauled by a great white off Dee Why and a backpacker died after being repeatedly attacked by a suspected bull shark near Port Macquarie.

These two deaths are the state’s highest equal annual fatality rate from sharks since three people lost their lives to the animals in 1955.

As part of the new shark mitigation package, drone operators will begin working a week earlier while patrols will also be extended to beyond the usual end of January.

The government will also partner with Surfing NSW to offer drone training to board rider clubs between Newcastle and Wollongong while the SharkSmart van will travel up and down the coast over summer to answer community questions.

Mercury Psillakis, pictured with his wife Maria, was mauled to death by a shark at Dee Why. Picture: Supplied

The initiatives – which The Sunday Telegraph understands to be some of a range of shark mitigation measures the government is examining – follows the death of Dee Why husband and father Mercury Psillakis in September after he was attacked by a great white and Swiss tourist Livia Mühlheim, 25, who died after being mauled by a bull shark at a remote NSW beach.

Ms Muhlheim’s boyfriend Lukas Schindler, 26, was also mauled, with a bystander creating a makeshift tourniquet as they waited for help.

Mercury’s wife Maria and his twin brother Michael have been advocating for greater shark mitigation since the tragedy, meeting with Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty and representatives from Surfing NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW on Friday.

The group discussed increasing surfer protection as part of “Mercury’s legacy”.

While surf lifesavers have access to 50 drones, these are used at more regional beaches.

The funding will pay for additional drones to go to Surfing NSW, which will work with its boardriding clubs to patrol the more remote corners of beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong.

Livia Mühlheim, 25, who was swimming at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park, 300km north of Sydney, when she and her partner were attacked by a 3m bull shark. Picture: Supplied

“Drones have shown to continually be our eye in the sky when it comes to early shark detection warning systems, and this enhancement package is an important step forward in utilising and expanding their potential,” Ms Moriarty said. “I met the Psillakis family recently. Expediting the rollout of drones and training to Surfing NSW and their boardrider clubs is a significant contribution to honouring his legacy.”

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said: “Drones have shown to continually be our eye in the sky when it comes to early shark detection warning systems.”

Surfing NSW CEO Lucas Townsend said the recent attacks had unnerved the usually resilient surfing community.

The funding will pay for 150 additional medical emergency bite kits created by Hastings man Danny Schouten to be rolled out to remote beaches.

Mr Schouten created the kits after his mate Kai McKenzie was attacked by a shark at Port Macquarie in 2024.

“Our regional delegates had their annual general meeting last week and shark mitigation was the number one concern,” he said. “This support helps builds the capacity for surfing to keep its own community safe at the beach. If we have better surveillance, everyone in the community benefits.”

Mr Schouten said the expansion of his bite kits would ensure swimmers and surfers in remote areas had access to first aid as fast as possible.

This year has seen the highest amount of deaths from shark attacks since 1955.

“We were lucky on the beach that day with Kai, and I thank the government for helping ensure other people have all the resources available to them when they head out for a surf, too,” he said.

Existing drone patrols operated by Surf Life Saving NSW will begin with 30 beaches on December 13, increasing to 50 by December 20.

Last summer, 50 drones flew from Tweed to Bega, completing 18,027 flights over 4897 flying hours.

Local independent MP Michael Regan, who has been speaking with Ms Psillakis and Michael about their ideas, said he was grateful the family could share their grief, concerns “and solutions” with Ms Moriarty.

Bo Sutcliffe, whose 16-year-old son Barclay was enjoying the waves at Queenscliff during a junior competition yesterday, said he welcomed the package given surfers had been on edge lately.

“It’s not foolproof, we get that, but we do need another layer of safety,” he said. “We’re trying not to scare kids where they don’t want to go out into the water.”

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Originally published as Shark-spotting drones to be deployed at NSW beaches after fatal attacks