NSW Government unveils new shark strategy — more drones, fewer helicopters
The New South Wales Government has announced its new $8 million strategy to protect beachgoers from sharks this year, investing in drone technology and the continued use of SMART drumlines at high-risk locations.
Up to 80 drones will be deployed, equipped with advanced technology that detects the size and species of sharks.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said that is double the number of drones used last year.
"The new equipment will be used at 34 beaches on the north and south coasts deemed to be at risk of shark attacks," he said. "The high-tech drones are a big advance on current models."
A $16 million trial of shark mitigation strategies began in 2016 after an unprecedented spate of attacks on the north coast.
That trial period finished yesterday.
The Government's ongoing program seemed certain in the wake of a fatal attack near Kingscliff in early June.
A trial between Lennox and Evans Head saw more than 400 target species tagged and released further out to sea, including 333 great white sharks.
In early June, a surfer was killed by a shark at Kingscliff, northern NSW
The 2020/21 NSW Shark Program includes:
- Drone surveillance at 34 key swimming locations
- 35 SMART drumlines in high risk locations on the north coast
- 21 VR4G listening stations along the NSW coastline
- The continuation of the Shark Meshing Bather Protection program, which has run since 1937, at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong
- Community awareness and education programs
Less helicopters, more drones
Ballina Mayor David Wright has been heavily invested in the shark programs since a spate of unprecedented attacks rocked the popular coastal town in 2015 and 2016. He said although the new strategy, titled the 2020/2021 NSW Shark Program, did not include helicopter patrols on the north and south coasts, it did include all the key measures requested.
"I'm prepared not to fight for that [helicopters] because I think the drone coverage will be good," he said. "It's like someone offering you $1,000 and you're questioning whether it's in $100 notes or $50 notes."
Cr Wright said the new fleet of drones alongside the existing VR4G listening stations, SMART drumlines, and Shark Smart app would provide the best coverage available.
"Councils up and down the coast haven't been asked to pay anything and we're getting this coverage that's going to benefit the tourism industry and the safety of locals," he said.
More drones should mean more training
Ben Beesley is the president of Le-Ba Boardriders, as well as a pilot and accredited trainer of commercial drone operators. He said his main concern about the increasing number of drones was the education and training of operators.
"I feel as though the volunteers don't get enough training to be able to operate the drones safely through the surf clubs," he said.
Ben Beesley says drone training investment would be one way to make sure the sky's a safe place, not just the water (Supplied: Ben Beesley)
"Being a pilot myself, there's been many times where you come into pretty close proximity to drones. "If one of those was to come crashing through the windscreen of my aircraft it's probably going to send me to the ground."
Mr Beesley said there should be a focus on ensuring drone operators are well trained and have a broader understanding of the aviation industry.
"In terms on investment from the Government,I think that would be one way to make sure the sky's a safe place, not just the water," he said.
Drones could be deployed in emergency situations
On the NSW far south coast, beaches in Malua Bay, Tathra, and Pambula are set to receive a new drone. Director of Surf Life Saving for the region Cheryl McCarthy said the drone surveillance will help put beachgoers at ease.
"It's having those 'eyes in the skies' to get a different perspective which you don't have from the beach," she said.
Although the drones' primary purpose is aerial shark surveillance, Ms McCarthy said their small size can be made useful in emergency situations, especially along parts of the coastline that are difficult to access.
"If there are emergency call-outs in the area they can be deployed to back up those search efforts as well," she said. "They're easy to move around because they're small and we can trek them into remote areas."
// LEAH WHITE and ADRIANE REARDON
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
I wonder how long it takes to recharge and relaunch a drone once the battery life is done, and also the flight time? Or maybe they have a relay of batteries already charged and ready to go.
Flight time is generally from about 20-30min. Maybe there are some exceptions, but current gen tech has them limited around that threshold as every time you make the battery bigger, the payload increases and negates any battery life extensions.
Only takes a minute to land and swap a battery, and they do usually have plenty of spare batteries ready to go. Some contractors work as a team of two so one drone takes off while the other is landing, giving them unbroken coverage.
When a minister spends a large chunk of money and calls the new equipment "high tech" and a "big advance" without explaining what's so advanced or techy about it, people should be suspicious.
There is nothing worse than the buzzing of a drone when trying to have a quiet surf
Being eaten by a shark?
Call me a conspiracy LWNJ, or a Trotskyist, but, given that the state and federal government, in actual truth, DO NOT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT PEOPLE - power is their master, the ONLY reason government is keen on this is that it acts to soften entry to the 'surveillance state' in which we are already in Version 2.0 of. The next version - which is thriving in Mt Druitt and oppressing it's communities, is drones flying over head monitoring all communities, like they have been doing for the past decade in non-declared warzones in the middle ease. The Mt Druitt program is on the basis of Biker laws and responses - but in practice, do you think it is limited to Bikers? fuck no. So, yeah, great, what ever keeps us safe from Noah's is a good thing, but lets not be naive and narcissistic about what the government and big business love, or even give a shit about. It is not us.
Hey mate, can I get some of the stuff you're on?
How many Smart Drum lines are there currently on the North Coast? I thought there was only a couple around Ballina?
Any talk of where new ones will go? Also more cost with hiring contractors to set and check all year round.
We’ll be watering the crops with Gaterade soon.
its got electrolytes!
Funny not long ago our science experts were telling us our finned friends were at risk of extinction.Years ago I had a conversation with a now deceased lifelong Crayfisherman and boatbuilder.
He said sharks are like dogs,some of them are mad attacking boats,pots and propellers.
Politicians are too scared to make a hard call based on photos of a dead shark and green social media warriors.
It is not ethical to watch a man eater swimming away.
Spot on mate
No doubt sharks, like other animals, have distinct personalities and there's probably a few grumpy old bastards getting around.
However your line about man eaters is ridiculous. Most of those sharks who attack a person are juvenile GW's in the 10-12ft range. Basically they are at the stage where they are moving from fish to larger prey like seals, whales, etc. Much like a toddler starting on solid food, they'll go around putting just about anything into their mouths to figure out if it is edible. This description matches most reports of sharks biting boats, buoys, and people. Usually it results in the shark spitting the person out when they find them (or their wetsuit/surfboard) unpalatable. So I don't see the point in hunting down a shark that has just decided that people aren't very good to eat.
If you are so shit scared of what inhabits the oceans then go surf in a wave pool.
Every surfer out there would would tell you they have a deep appreciation of, respect, and a need to protect, what the oceans have to offer. True environmentalists you might say.
But for some, those principals are promptly jettisoned when a part of that ocean threatens your fun, so you just have to kill it. Ignorant selfish pricks.
Completely agree mate.
Well I'm not sure that experts have changed their tune on the vulnerability of the species.
As to man eaters, we are talking roughly one shark a year. I don't think eliminating them is going to make any difference safety wise, nor do I see killing them as the necessarily ethical thing to do.
Tagging 333 whites is good news. Hopefully produces plenty of useful data
Hard to know how effective the drones will be with their limited ranges and as Craig noted the battery life. I think they are limited by line of sight, so they won’t be able to do a series of beaches, instead will have to land, pack up and move to next beach. They will also require 80 pilots.... will they be trained clubbies or sub contractors.
The chopper is probably expensive but covers a lot of ground including isolated breaks where they won’t be putting a drone up. I always liked to see it go over, even though it’s only overhead for a few seconds.
What is the Great White population if they caught and released 333 just between Lennox and Ballina?!
Totally agree.
I've been called in by the chopper at our local more than once and we're a bloody long way from the nearest surf club!
I often surf alone along remote stretches as well, and seeing the chopper fly over does provide some level of reassurance....at least someone is looking out above and not just at the local surf club and surrounds.
The drones are a political decision to save money but to still appear they are taking some action....time will tell just how effective this decision is.
What does a drone do if it spots a shark near surfers?
Turns it’s video onto recording!!!
Our local one sets off an alarm from the beach which is activated by the operator.
Anymore info on this?
Drone surveillance at 34 key swimming locations
35 SMART drumlines in high risk locations on the north coast
21 VR4G listening stations along the NSW coastline
As in locations etc?
"Up to 80 drones will be deployed, equipped with advanced technology that detects the size and species of sharks."
So cameras.
Yippee! This must mean I can fly my drone over Lennox Head again.
The planet NEEDS a healthy ocean and so do we. The planet doesn’t need us.
How many drones does this world need?
We've already got a government and corporate pyramids full of em'.
"Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups"
Sharks! In the Water! No!?
Australians don't get free (or even good) education, healthcare system is ... average, and we're spending money on what again?? Drones??
This is the definition of retarded.
I went to a shark management plan meeting in Ballina some years back when a lot of attacks were happening where NSW fisheries introduced a government employed shark expert a young girl who looked about 25 ..now i have spent 35 plus years commercial fishing up and down the east coast of QLD and have seen a large increase in shark numbers over the last 10 yrs especially bull sharks ...i mentioned this to the shark expert and another NSW commercial fisherman said he has seen the same thing in NSW ..The shark expert said that wasnt right .!!! She then went on to say that shark netts work but culling doesnt ..im not sure what she thinks shark netts do ???? I didnt stay very long i figured a coldy at the local was a better option ...There is a lot more money in researching sharks ..government funding ..tagging... flying over them and giving them names etc if i remember correctly ther was 15 million dollar shark management plan being announced at the time which inuded a plastic submerged fence that washed up on the beach at north wall ..another experts idea ...the moneys all gone and not much has changed ......im all for the drones on populated swimming beaches cheaper than a chopper ..but as for the 15 mill wasted they coulda spent that somewhere more usefull instead of another vote grab ...
Anybody for a coldy
Mate I've got a lot of respect for your experience in this area. You probably know a lot more than many experts and I completely trust that you say you see an increase in shark numbers.
But that is not science. There could be many reason why you see more sharks, and not all of them mean there are actually more sharks.
Now I don't know anything about that program, the expert you mention or whether the money is well spent. But we need to get the objective science done.
I'd love a coldy. Longest Thursday ever.
Yep, hats off to the anecdotal evidence that the people who spend the time can provide. But I completely agree - science is essential. Sometimes it gets corrupted, errors, whatever, but it has to be documented properly to have the rigour required to make decisions and test ideas with consistency.
But why do we need the ‘science’? Why do we need to constantly try to control everything?
There’s sharks in our oceans, we all know it, we all surf with them, full stop.
Science isn't inherently about controlling something but understanding it.
Considering that, a) we've driven some shark species to the edge of extinction, and b) we're sometimes prey to them, I think it's incumbent upon us to best understand sharks.
To what end though?
Yeah cool, we begin to understand prehistoric animal’s movements and behaviours. I admit they are fascinating.
And if we do (which I highly doubt we will) so what? I can’t see how it changes anything for the ocean goers of the north coast. All that money to make everyone aware there are GW’s, Bulls and tigers out there?
Don’t get me wrong what happened recently was bloody awful, quite frankly gutting and I hope there’s no more.
Researchers undertake research with the primary goal of creating more research.
I wish I had a waterproof rifle to shoot drones that sit over my head when I'm having a nice quiet surf. I really don't care about their footage or instagram page.
And remember... if there's no footage, IT DIDN"T HAPPEN!!!!!
I was pretty disappointed that the Mayor mentioned the tourism industry before the safety of people.
If I had my way I'd kill every shark, tree hugger and hipster
Fuckwit.
How wouldn't that be evolution? survival of the fittest, law of the jungle . Animal's life before humans, that's treason
I'm more than happy to replace the helicopters with drones for starters. What a frickin waste of money they are. All that money for 30 seconds fly over. Doubt they have stopped a thing except mortgage payments for the pilot.
Having said that if drones had some form of infrared-space-age water penetrating radar and were out there at dawn and dusk rather than just clubby hours I'd feel a lot better.
Maybe someone needs to invent a swarm of shark-zapping submarine drones....
Each new Shark mitigation measure is fraught with less utility or coverage.
The main reason Qld / NSW keeps nets & Drum lines is the set & forget factor.
3 day maintenance has long been the norm for safety & common sense.
New Tech requires 24/7 operation which ups the cost to that of Drowning Patrols.
Consider SLSA spends 3 to 1 Ratio on Clubbie Comps over Drowning Patrols.
Shark Attacks ain't a patch on Drownings so to dedicate equal money is unrealistic.
WA/ Qld / NSW Shark Funding per State Avg = 2000-$1m / year > 2020-$5m / year
Fisheries decide but NSW has a bidding war that stacks in favour of big clubs
North Sydney + Gold/Sunny Coasts have most nets to shape major Resort precincts.
With no Shark Protection there is no Tourists & Town Plan gets torn up.
Govts that can't protect SLS / Guests would argue beaches to close ( No Town!)
This is the very reason Northern NSW is undeveloped.
North NSW are not surprised to again miss out in this presented round of funding.
https://www.uav.org/tweed-shire-gets-two-shark-drones-while-ballina-wait...
2018/19 ( Jbay / GC/ Margs) WSL is #1 State Shark mitigated Event spend.
This is purely because the event plays out before a large beachside crowd.
Rescheduled Salmon Run + SMS Shark mitigation Systems + Helicopters + Spotter Planes + WSL has the only GC Air Zone Drone/s License + Hamelin 24m Fisheries -Vessel/s + 9 Jet Skis fitted with Sonar / Lights / Shark Shields + Balconi & Clever Buoy (Sonar) + Drum Lines + Smart Drum Lines + Shark Nets +VR4 Shark Tag Receiver Buoy + Modom Leashes. etc...
Ironmen & notably Ocean Swim meets encounter many more Sharks per Event.
Spotter Plane + Support Boats
Govt/s rebate Shark Shields for Surfers but none are used in Surf Events
No rebates for Sharkbanz & every Swimmer wears their own in Ocean Swim Events.
This rapid widening divide is leaving surfers behind as Diva baggage.
So what is the criteria that has some towns to endlessly miss out on Shark Patrols.
*Smart Drum Lines require 24/7 Safe Port & Calm swell access inside a bay.
None will cross a night Bar in huge surf to unhook a GWS in 6ft ricocheting swells.
Little Towns without Port or wharf will be turned down for Smart Drum Lines.
Tweed is too Rough with no suitable Shark Wharf if event unfolds.
Rainbow Beach is said to be Qld's most effective (Standard) Drumline Lay Out
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/54548/SharkEquipm...
* Sonar...Shallow uneven Depth (Surfzone) Beam misses out on half the show.
Rec vessel Fleets with Shark Sonar would be of use but Sharks don't register.
* Curtains ( Magnetic / Pulse ) Test Designs are too tiny for Oz Coast
* Spotter Planes & Choppers can Patrol 100% of Coastline but limited by weather.
Height advantage covers broader area requiring less sweeps with Multispecteral cam
350m is said to be 100% optimum height (100% > 3.6m deep + 91% > 4.57m deep)
Drones provide a Halo effect of Pollies overseeing my safety...(Detracts from Sharks!)
Drones have more limitations by law. (SLSA) are committed to CASA no fly rules.
Airports rule out Drones from Patrolling Busiest Beaches.
No Fly Beaches : SC (central) / GC (WSR) / Coffs / N'castle / W'gong / Jervis Bay
No Marine Parks + Crowds - (30m) + Whales -300m + Offshore limit -400m + height limit -150m.
Mid Summer (Busy) is too hot for Batteries + Off shore / Windy > Grounded
Drone can't Fly over busy crowds or wave break or too far out on big days.
Height limit affords only a last minute near sighting. Constant drones are needed.
Southern Hemisphere east coast Drones need to fly Clockwise away from Sun Glare.
Drones Time Penalties
SLSA operate Summer Holidays + w/e (8:00am -5:00pm) No winter Patrols (ever)
SLSA Drones are confined by settings to 450m...(No - Bommie, Reef, Point sweeps)
East (am) Drone is blinded by early fog then Sun-glare (No depth is registered)
North (Midday) Glare blocks any depth in searches
South (Arvo) Onshore Chop waves create many Shadows ( Poor Low Drone Vision)
West ( Sunset) Glare spoils view back to busier end of day to inshore crowd.
UAV operator must adjust Clockwise flight pattern to suit Sun & Wind.(Tricky)
Allowing for Crowd numbers ...Very much doubt many have that skill set.
This is a science familiar to our swellnet masters.
Clubbies need to program a Sundial/Weather/Surf Forecast into the UAV Matrix.
Drones will never patrol Surfers early or late or weekdays thru the year or winter.
Drones won't patrol Big Surf beachies, Winds, Storms, Tides rise surf with Baitfish, Marine animal -(Whale) Migrations, Whitewater, Seaweed, Foam, Algae, Spawns, Seaweed, Debris
(Impossible for Multispectral cam to sort a shadow 100ms offshore in wave zone)
eg: Nearly all this tech is trialled in dreamy postcard settings!
Many argue drones are best for whales, fail to mention 300m no fly zone @ Whales.
Whales actually ground Drone Patrols when sharks are trailing...just saying Durr!
Trap them in Nets is cruel so lets mow the down with drones? Fail to see the love!
Pro Surfers & Resort Beaches are always gonna get the cans of Shark Spray.
Surfers will still need to jump the Shark.
WSR Legislation is similar to a Marine Park (This needs understanding)
SC (WSR) is ready to cut strings but GC is still very much a Govt pet!
WSR may surprise & enact Marine Park Shark Policy...(CASA drone exemptions)
WSL / SA will need to accept & comply at all WSR comps.
Surfers need an instant affordable light footprint (Mobile Model)
It seems likely they'll be reimbursed.
Firstly, you may need to adopt the Sharkbanz / Shield policy in order to host event!
Secondly, exploit the fact that Drone cam cost is cheaper each year.
(1) Comp Raft Buoy can attach a Blimp (Alarm) Cam to scan 360* / 300m Surrounds
(2) UAV seaward Drone tracks outer 200m perimeter.(CASA -WSR Event licenses)
(3) Headland / Dune / Rockwall Spotter/s patrol with best Binoculars / Radios
(4) Raft Buoy as the escape module with JetSki / Large Board lifeline.
12 Dec 2017 ( Federal inquiry ) Shark Mitigation & deterrent measures
Exceptional World Class Papers on all Mitigation (Very well laid out concise works)
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environm...
this is an interesting experiment on urine and blood and shark interactions..
Key Results of the NSW Shark Management Study.
(*North Coast - REVIEW)
Nth Cst (Evans Hd -Tweed Hds) 4 Shark Nets- Dec '16-May '17+ Nov '17- May '18
White-2 / Tiger -1 / Bull-3 (All dead) Bycatch toll in the 100's led to Trial ending early.
NSW Smart Drum + Tags (Dec 2016-Dec 2019) White -404 / Tiger- 83 / Bull -11
North Coast (Evans Head - Tweed Heads) White -302 / Tiger-42 / Bull -11
NSW Shark Listening (April 2019-March 2020) VR4G (Often records same shark).
NorthCoast (Evans Head -Tweed Heads) White- 301 / Tiger- 15 / Bull -92
NSW Aerial (Oct 2018-April 2019) Total Sightings-370 (Often records same shark).
North Coast (Evans Head -Tweed Heads) Sightings-293 ( Evacuations-34)
Notes:
Site readings indicate (< 50%>) as same coastal sightings (Across Aerial / VR4G)
2018/19 Aerial (drone) operation 7 months (approx)
2019/20 North Coast - Hours (Example)
Drones 2x 10-15m / hr [ 9am-4pm ]....(3 beaches x 7days + 2 beaches w/e only)
Drone min' surveillance(Avg/yr) identified more Sharks than tagged VR4G Sharks
VR4G signal is confused by Infected Tags / Wind Chop-Surf / Anchor Chain rattle.
Harm to Shark from infected, constant Audible Tags + Cat-bell prey +reverse effect.
Prey scatters ahead of Shark & Orca can zero in on tagged shark.(Predator to Pussy!)
Sharks signal out humans & motion them to remove their infected, evil Dr No tags.
One could easily argue that these rusting Tags are more cruel than hooks or netting.
file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/Sub47_att2%20(3).pdf
NSW SHARK PROGRAM 2020/21 (Overview + Mitigation Map)
North Cst -(Evans Hd -Tweed Hds) Smart Drums +Tags -35 / VR48 -7 / Drones -8
https://www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1240814/ns...
2020/21 NSW Shark Program (Part 2 Tweed Shire Compliment)
recap : 2020'21 Tweed Shire Shark Mitigation
1 Listening Station + 2 Drones
(Additional breaking News)
{rip} Rob Pedretti @ Kingy Reefs
Community & SLSC's pushed Tweed Council
20th Aug 2020 Tweed Valley Weekly [Page 10]
https://issuu.com/tweedvalleyweekly/docs/tvw_august_20
Cr Byrnes : Council will purchase 6 drones of a cost between $35-50,000
Then loan them to Tweed SLSC's @ (Fingal / Kingy / Salt / Cabba)
(No - D bah, Hastings, Pottsville)
SLSNSW Mr Pearce : "No thanks, Our Little Rippers might catch Covid!
But we could blow the money on some Jet Skis / Buggies / Rubber Duckies...
tbb : (It is possible that Council might procure a SMART BUOY $120,000) re: Below
Smart Buoy needs safe fast'n'ready access near Seaway Ports.(Tweed / Kingy Bars?)
29th Aug 2020 (Bully Print Edition!) tbb's complimentary cross border copy)
*Council + SLSC's will add 2 more drones = Now 6 Tweed Drones (Total)
Note: Council 6 > 2 drones offer is likely costing the more expensive 2 Little Rippers.
NSWSLS have not committed as yet...strictly an offer by Tweed Council
*NSW Govt are prepared to roll out "SOME" Drumlines on Shire Beaches.
Cr Byrnes "There was no real appetite for Nets!"
Then goes on to reassure of 'maybe' just 1 Shire drumline/s...
NSW Govt haven't released any Tweed Shire Smart Drum line number's or location.
Given reports...It seems (None) or 1 -2 Drum Lines if Tweed Council Pays (Half?)
Tweed Council want Shark mitigation...but NSWSLS/Govt have not taken the bait.
(Less provisioned )Tweed Shire Clubs must "buy" NSW approved Shark Mitigation.
Or go without...Need to stack more Pollies / NRL saunas / Developers in yer Clubs!
Govts gave Don $10m+ for Surfie HPC but has yet to provide agreed Casuarina SLSC.
All about Seachange Priority..
https://www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au/
Tweed Cr : "NSW has come on board a bit... but not enough."
NSW SLOW TO ACT
Ed : "Without a border, Tweed could've been protected under GC shield long ago."
Extra Research...
23rd-29th Aug [ 2019/20 NSW DPI Shark Meshing Report ]
https://www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1246275/sm...
Spare News Copy...just in case...
http://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/NSW-Shark-Meshing-2019-20-Performance...
Recently I had a chat with a fella who just finished a summer gig running drone shark surveillance at a Mid North Coast holiday town.
Worked eight hours days - 9am to 6pm - Monday to Friday for three months straight.
That's roughly 480 hours spent airborne spotting sharks.
And the number of sharks he spotted in that time?
Three.
probably different results if running winter /spring.
But that different...?
I would've been expecting three sightings a day, maybe three sightings in a week when it was slow, but three in a whole season?
I know this is a survey of one, but that's beyond abysmal, and if similar results are found elsewhere then it's hard to see why they'd bother continuing.
yes a bit surprising but pretty sure when the whales are nearby so are the whites.....
This NSW Government Shark Strategy looks more and more ridiculous. The last three attacks on the North Coast have been during the day at popular surf spots. Drones are irrelevant.
The increased emphasis on ‘education’ is also a form of victim blaming. These attacks are not occurring at sunset in a river mouth while being there is a school of salmon in the water.
The DPI should just come out and state the obvious, yes white shark numbers are increasing on the North Coast, yes there will be more surfer and swimmer interactions in the water and yes the number of deaths per year will increase unless something changes.
Swell is on the pump but it looks like they can't get the drum lines out there..
Which mid north coast town ..Some places across mid north coast near river mouths had very poor visibility due to a wet summer and N.E winds ..southwest rocks for instance has had very few days where the water is clear ...would be very hard to see anything with a drone ..