Shark-spotting drones are about reassurance – not full protection
Shark-spotting drones are about reassurance – not full protection
https://theconversation.com/shark-spotting-drones-are-about-reassurance-not-full-protection-286344
Publish Date: 2026-06-30 00:53:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
Sharks are front of mind for many Sydneysiders and coastal New South Wales residents. In January, a teenager died amid a spate of attacks in and around Sydney. This month, a woman was bitten by a large great white while swimming close to shore and between the flags at Coogee Beach.
These incidents have made many swimmers and surfers fearful of returning to the ocean. Public figures have called for shark culls.
The NSW government has ruled out culling great whites, a protected species, but is considering a bull shark cull. This week, it announced $A34 million in new funding to expand its shark-spotting drone program, as part of a larger shark safety program. It will mean daily drone surveillance of around 70 beaches, including every Sydney beach and one for each coastal council.
While spotter drones are a genuine advance in shark detection, they’re not foolproof. After flying spotter drones over Sydney beaches for a season, this article’s lead author found shark detection didn’t mean protection.
Read more:
How shoring up drones with artificial intelligence helps surf lifesavers spot sharks at the beach
The more you look, the more you see
Before drones, authorities relied on infrequent spotter flights over popular beaches. As a result, few sharks were sighted.
Drones have made it much easier to watch the ocean from above for extended periods. As a result, spotting a shark is now more likely. But more sightings doesn’t necessarily mean there are more sharks.
As authorities roll out their expanded drone program, we can expect to see a surge in shark sightings and more beaches closed as a precaution.
Drone spotting of sharks will likely lead to more beach closures. Pictured: Coogee Beach in Sydney after a woman was bitten by a shark in June.
Nadir Kinani/AAP
Detection doesn’t mean protection
Researchers have used drone…
