IN - WATER MANAGEMENT

Cudgen Beach, KingscliffNov 2018 - April 201912 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

Main Beach, Byron BayOct 2018 - Apr 201949 sharks sighted4 beach evacuations

The Pass, Byron BayOct 2018 - Apr 201946 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

Suffolk ParkOct 2018 - Apr 20198 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

Lennox HeadNov 2018 - Apr 201919 sharks sighted3 beach evacuations

Sharpes Beach, BallinaOct 2018 - Apr 201941 sharks sighted7 beach evacuations

Shelly Beach, BallinaDec 2018 - Apr 201925 sharks sighted10 beach evacuations

Lighthouse Beach, BallinaOct 2018 - Apr 201935 sharks sighted3 beach evacuations

Evans HeadNov 2018 - Apr 201958 sharks sighted7 beach evacuations

YambaNov 2018 - Apr 20193 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

PambulaDec 2018 - Feb 201937 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

TathraDec 2018 - Feb 20190 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

MollymookDec 2018 - Feb 20194 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

KiamaDec 2018 - Feb 201910 sharks sighted1 beach evacuations

AvocaDec 2018 - Apr 20193 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

RedheadNov 2018 - Mar 20191 shark sighted0 beach evacuations

BirubiDec 2018 - Apr 20199 sharks sighted2 beach evacuations

DronesKey results across all trials from October 2018 - April 2019

370 potentially dangerous

sharks sighted

37 beach

evacuations

Tacking PointDec 2018 - Apr 20198 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

WoolgoolgaDec 2018 - Apr 20192 sharks sighted0 beach evacuations

TECHNOLOGY & MONITORINGAERIAL SURVEILLANCE

People were evacuated from the water when potentially dangerous sharks were within 200m

Series of results - a snapshot of NSW shark mitigation

Kingscliff

Byron BaySuffolk Park

Lennox HeadBallina

Evans Head

Yamba

Woolgoolga

Tathra

Tacking Point

Pambula

Birubi

Redhead

Avoca

Kiama

Mollymook

At a patrolled beachDrones are used at some beaches as a new tool for lifesavers and lifeguards. Drones assist beach authorities to bring a jetski or RHIB (boat) to herd the shark away

At an unpatrolled beachDrones can assist to alert water users that a shark is present

• No impacts to sharks or other marine animals• Comparatively cheap and easy to operate• In the future, automated software and flight paths

will be able to detect sharks• Targeted flights over a single beach and for events

eg. surfing or swimming event• Rapid response and general beach surveillance• Help beach authorities to monitor the shark• Versatility of drones as a multipurpose

surveillance and rescue tool • Potential to drop life saving devices to water

users in distress

• Relatively inexpensive. Partnerships between SLS NSW, Councils and swimming/surfing groups could reduce costs

• Currently flights are restricted within 1 km of the pilot

• Proximity to airports may limit use and level of pilot training required

• Flights not possible in poor weather, eg. strong winds, water turbidity

• Requires training of operators

BENEFITS CONSIDERATIONS

For more information: sharksmart.nsw.gov.au

WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS • Drone shark surveillance is the most supported

and preferred mitigation approach across all coastal regions

• Seen as the future of not just shark management but beach and ocean safety

• Valued for targeted coverage over individual beaches and ability to hover over sharks and water users in distress (e.g. rips or drowning)

• Non-invasive and versatile to provide general surveillance and ocean rescue functions

• Concerns of potential risks of human error and limitations in poor weather/water conditions

• Overall, excellent value for money, cheaper option and more environmentally friendly than helicopters

WHEN A SHARK IS OBSERVEDA potentially dangerous shark over

2m is sighted close to swimmers/surfers

The drone reduces height to hover, a siren is activated and loudspeaker alerts water users

Beach authorities are notified so they can assess if the beach

should be closed and for how long

Sighting and/or beach closure is reported live to the

public via the SharkSmart app and Twitter

BEACH CLOSED

Artificial intelligence used to help identify shark species

SLS NSW with drone used for the trials

JT16213 June 2020