Australia deploys record drone fleet. New program to protect people and sharks

The Australian state of New South Wales is launching the world's most extensive aerial shark monitoring system to date, effective July 1, 2026. The government is investing an additional 34 million Australian dollars into the program, which will use drones to monitor approximately 70 beaches year-round, from dawn until dusk.

The decision comes after several serious incidents on the Australian coast, including a recent great white shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney. However, the new program's goal is not to eliminate sharks, but to detect them early and alert lifeguards and beachgoers before a dangerous situation occurs.

Eyes in the sky

The program will be operated by Surf Life Saving NSW, an organization that has been using drones to monitor the coast for several years. According to their data, drones have helped prevent more than 2,000 potential human-shark encounters this year alone and have conducted over 100,000 monitoring flights.

Drones will now patrol all oceanic beaches in Sydney and dozens of other popular locations along the coast. The project also includes testing artificial intelligence systems that will be able to automatically recognize sharks in the water and speed up the dissemination of warnings.

Protecting people without killing sharks

Australia has long sought ways to increase swimmer safety without negatively impacting marine ecosystems. Although some attacks have led to calls for culling sharks, experts point out that great white sharks, in particular, migrate vast distances, and such measures would have minimal effect.

Drones therefore represent a more modern and environmentally friendly solution. They allow for real-time tracking of shark movements, closing beaches only when absolutely necessary, and do not threaten the animals in any way.

The future of safer beaches

If the new program proves successful, it could inspire other countries with high shark populations. The combination of drones, artificial intelligence, and experienced lifeguards shows that protecting people does not have to be at odds with protecting marine life.

Modern technology can thus help create an environment where both humans and sharks can share the ocean more safely than ever before.

Author: Miri Svobodová

Source: The Guardian, Government of New South Wales, ABC News Australia