NSW shark sightings: 50 NSW beaches to use drone technology for shark detection

The use of drones to monitor sharks has escalated, with 50 beaches along the east coast now using drone pilots at popular swimming spots.

Surf Lifesaving NSW has increased its use of drones at the state’s beaches for the 2022-23 summer season. Photo: Julian Andrews.

A sharp increase in the use of drones to detect sharks at NSW beaches is behind a rise in sightings recent years, as the technology becomes increasingly central to surf lifesaving operations.

While drones have been used to detect sharks in NSW since 2017, the number of beaches using the technology has risen from 34 across the east coast to 50 in the last 12 months.

Surf Life Saving NSW data show the number of sharks spotted off the state’s beaches jumped from six in 2017-18 to 104 in 2021-22.

Sydney beaches had the most shark sightings, with 53 spotted.

The drone operations are part of the NSW Department of Primary Industries shark management strategy.

Aerial footage of a shark sighting at Bondi in Sydney.

A Surf Life Saving NSW report states the program – which was implemented to help reduce the interaction between people and sharks – is behind the jump in numbers, as increased use of technology has spotted more sharks.

Drones are also being used to help identify rip currents and at-risk swimmers.

Crowds have flocked to Bondi and other Sydney beaches this summer. Photo: Julian Andrews

A shot captured by the Ripper Corporation’s Sharkspotter AI technology. Photo: supplied

A spokeswoman for drone and technology company The Ripper Corp, which helped NSW implement its drone operations, said it was natural the increase in drone usage had led to an increase in shark sightings.

“it’s just a natural progression that more people [using drones] are uncovering sharks that have always been there,” she said.

The Australian-based company launched an AI-driven drone program four years ago that has fed 40,000 images into machine learning software that alerts its user to potential matches.

Bondi Rescue's Bruce “Hoppo” Hopkins on the beach

Surf Life Saving NSW is currently using manual drones operated by drone pilots, however The Ripper Corp’s tech heralds a future in which sharks could be detected with even greater precision.

Waverley Council lifeguard team leader Bruce Hopkins said the risk posed to beachgoers by sharks had not changed – but common sense safety rules still applied.

“If people hear the alarm, just come out of the water and don’t panic too much,” he said.

“Just stay calm and leave the water at a sensible pace.”

The head Bondi lifeguard says while he understands why people panic, they are safer at patrolled beaches than anywhere else if a shark is detected.

“Some people can go into a bit of a panic mode,” he said.

Dawn and dusk remain dangerous times when sharks are more likely to venture into shore.

“Go to patrolled beaches where they’re monitoring the water at all times.”