Drone operators detected an average of about 20 sharks a day at patrolled beaches in New South Wales, according to figures released by the state government. Between 1 July and 31 August they recorded 1,225 sightings. The data were published as aerial surveillance was stepped up ahead of school holidays.
The sightings triggered 360 safety measures, including evacuations from the water, alerts for swimmers and surfers, and the deployment of inflatable boats and jet skis. The response figures show that detections were followed by concrete action by beach-safety teams.
Surf Life Saving NSW said its statewide drone operations recorded 49,000 flights, totalling 16,150 hours and covering 343,000 kilometres. The state government described the program as the world’s largest and most advanced aerial shark-surveillance operation.
The figures come as school holidays bring more people to patrolled beaches. They measure the scale of monitoring and the interventions it prompted, but do not indicate how many sightings involved sharks that had already been detected.