80 beaches in Sydney, regional NSW to be patrolled by shark drones after ‘unprecedented’ spate of attacks
The NSW government will conduct drone patrols at 30 more beaches, including 19 in Sydney, and install new shark listening stations after “unprecedented” deadly attacks.
Four people were attacked by sharks in a 48-hour period in NSW this week; including the fatal attack on 12-year-old Nico Antic.
The state government on Sunday announced plans to allocate a further $4.2 million to shark surveillance programs and research targeting bull sharks, studying their numbers in Sydney Harbour, their movements and numbers during high-risk periods.
The funding will also enable a major expansion of the drone patrol program.
Around 50 beaches are currently under Surf Life Saving NSW drone surveillance during the summer school holiday period.
From January 24, a further 30 locations, including 19 in Sydney and 11 regional areas, will be patrolled, bringing the total number of beaches under the programme, already the largest in the southern hemisphere, to 80 and approximately 35,000 additional flight hours.
Drone operations will also be increased to seven days a week by the end of the April school holiday period.
The government will also seek to install shark listening stations in Sydney Harbour, aimed at enabling faster detection of tagged sharks.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said recent shark incidents following storms and heavy rains highlighted the importance of “clear, practical information for people using water”.
“This funding will help expand drone surveillance, improve training and provide timely warnings so swimmers and surfers can make informed decisions about when to enter the water,” he said.
“There is no single solution and no government can promise to make water completely safe, so we use a range of tools to keep people informed and as safe as possible.”
It comes after Terrigal Beach on the NSW Central Coast was closed on Saturday following a shark sighting.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said seven beaches were closed after 10 sharks were spotted on Saturday alone.
Mr Pearce said 461 sharks had been detected during drone operations over the 2025/26 summer period and surf lifeguards had put in place 170 countermeasures, including beach evacuations, beach sirens, drone sirens and rescue vessels.
Mr. Pearce said the agency can now fly semi-autonomous drones anywhere in this state from its headquarters.
‘It’s not a magic bullet’
Ms Moriarty admitted the funding increase would not be a “silver bullet” and swimmers should heed warnings, including that they should not swim at dawn or dusk or after a storm event, when drones are less effective.
“This is an ongoing program that we are currently looking at for next year and the year after that, and we will continue to invest in better technology as it comes to fruition,” he said.
As for research, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will step up the tagging of bull sharks, which are more common in Sydney Harbour.
The programs join a number of programs already in place, including 305 drum lines in 19 LGAs, 51 shark nets between September 1 and March 31, and 37 existing tagged shark listening stations.
Last year the NSW government launched a trial to remove shark nets from some beaches in Sydney and the Central Coast.
Scientists warn that nets are ineffective at preventing bites and create a false sense of security.
