Shark attacks prompt daily drone monitoring of Sydney beaches

Sydney's beaches are set to receive enhanced aerial surveillance with daily dawn-to-dusk drone monitoring for sharks beginning in July. This move comes in response to a recent increase in shark attacks along the Australian coast, aiming to bolster safety measures for swimmers.

The New South Wales government announced it will allocate A$120 million over the next two years to its shark mitigation strategy. A significant portion of this funding, A$34 million, is specifically earmarked for the expansion of drone monitoring capabilities. This investment follows a serious shark attack in June that left a woman in her 30s with severe injuries to her arm and leg at Coogee Beach, one of the city's busiest.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated that the measures are designed to mitigate risks and provide a sense of security for those visiting the state's beaches. "The measures are aimed at mitigating risk and delivering a measure of confidence for people swimming at the state’s beaches," Minns told Sky News Australia on June 28.

The expanded monitoring initiative, led by Surf Life Saving NSW, will commence on July 1. It will encompass 38 beaches across Sydney, stretching from Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south. Additionally, numerous beaches in regional areas will also benefit from increased surveillance. The government also plans to trial at least two new artificial intelligence systems over the summer to further improve shark detection capabilities.

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The measures are aimed at mitigating risk and delivering a measure of confidence for people swimming at the state’s beaches.