business - 2026-06-29

Shark-spotting drones to patrol Northern Beaches from dawn to dusk every day

Source: manlyobserver.com.au

Shark-spotting drones will fly over Northern Beaches beaches from dawn to dusk every day of the year from Wednesday, July 1, as the NSW Government expands its shark surveillance program in response to more frequent shark bite incidents. For locals who swim, surf, paddle or fish outside patrol hours, the change means year-round aerial monitoring rather than limited seasonal coverage.

Shark-spotting drones will fly over Northern Beaches beaches from dawn to dusk every day of the year from Wednesday, July 1, as the NSW Government expands its shark surveillance program in response to more frequent shark bite incidents. For locals who swim, surf, paddle or fish outside patrol hours, the change means year-round aerial monitoring rather than limited seasonal coverage. The expanded program will be led by Surf Life Saving NSW and forms part of an additional $34 million state investment in drone technology, artificial intelligence and related systems across Sydney beaches and the wider NSW coast. Coverage across Sydney will grow from 26 beaches to 38, stretching from Palm Beach to Cronulla, with high-use beaches given priority. The rollout is designed to cover more than the usual flagged areas. The government said monitoring will not be limited to patrolled beaches, with popular unpatrolled surf spots also included. That is a significant change for the Northern Beaches, where many regular ocean users are in the water early, late and outside the patrol season. The broader package also includes two SharkSmart listening stations in Sydney Harbour to alert swimmers to...