Surfers and lifesavers unite to call for thousands of shark spotting drones

Surfers and surf lifesavers have proposed launching thousands of shark-spotting drones across NSW beaches in a $6 million bid to prevent fatal attacks.

Surfers and surf lifesavers are proposing to put thousands of shark-spotting drones into the skies to keep swimmers and surfers safe on NSW beaches.

The two complementary proposals are now before Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to consider funding of up to $6m to launch the drones in the wake of a fatal shark attack on the Mid North Coast this week.

It comes after Maria Psillakis, the widow of surfer Mercury Psillakis who was killed by a great white shark at Dee Why in September, called for greater drone surveillance to prevent other families sharing her heartbreak.

Independent Wakehurst MP Michael Regan said the surfer and surf lifesaving drone proposals could work together to provide swimmers with early shark warning at metropolitan and regional beaches.

MP Michael Regan, whose electorate covers kilomteres of beaches, has backed the lan to use drones to keep an eye on shark activity. Picture: AAP Image

“These people are on the beach every day and there is no reason why these two groups cannot work together to put eyes in the sky and make sure we are all protected,” Mr Regan said.

“Let’s combine these proposals together and run a pilot program on the Northern Beaches where we already have 21 surf clubs and 18 boardriding clubs ready to do the work.”

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said surf clubs already operated drones at 50 locations during school and public holidays for the state government.

Over the course of 36,000 flights last year, they spotted 1080 white pointer, tiger and bull sharks, and used sirens and speakers on the drones to warn swimmers 860 times.

“Our proposal would increase the number of beaches covered and also include midweek coverage via remotely operated drones,” Mr Pearce said.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce says drones already in use have been successful. Picture: David Swift

A single pilot in a control centre could operate up to five drones remotely at isolated beaches such as at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park, where Friday’s fatal attack took place.

“For the two drone systems to be co-ordinated, they would have to be under the one umbrella,” Mr Pearce said, with the Surfing NSW drone operators reporting into the SLS NSW network, which is already connected to the emergency services.

Surfing NSW chief executive Lucas Townsend said 125 boardriding clubs and 64 accredited surf schools already provided 165,000 hours of surveillance for surfers, with 70 per cent of that outside the surf life saving patrol season.

Surfing NSW is asking the government to provide up to $500,000 to fund thousands of lightweight drones with cameras for a pilot shark spotter program along the coastline.

“There is absolute unity here when it comes to keeping kids safe in the ocean,” Mr Townsend said.

Originally published as Surfers and lifesavers unite to call for thousands of shark spotting drones