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 an additional 30 beaches, including 19 in Sydney, and install new shark listening stations after an “unprecedented” spate of fatal attacks. Four people were attacked by sharks in NSW over a 48-hour period this week, including a fatal attack on 12-year-old Nico Antic. On Sunday, the state government announced plans to splash an additional $4.2m on shark surveillance programs and research targeting bull sharks, probing their numbers in Sydney Harbour, movements, and any high-risk periods. The funding will also see the drone patrol program greatly expanded. Currently, some 50 beaches are covered by Surf Life Saving NSW’s drone surveillance during the summer school holiday period. From January 24, a further 30 locations, including 19 in Sydney and 11 regional sites, will be patrolled, bringing the total number of beaches covered by the program – already the southern hemisphere’s largest – to 80 and approximately 35,000 additional flight hours. Drone operations will also be expanded to seven days per week through to the end of the April school holiday period. The government will also seek to install shark listening stations in Sydney Harbour which are aimed at providing faster detection of tagged sharks. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said recent shark incidents following storms and heavy rainfall highlighted the importance of “clear, practical information for people using the water”. “This funding will help expand drone surveillance, improve education and ensure timely warnings, so swimmers and surfers can make informed decisions about when to enter the water,” she said. “There’s no single solution, and no government can ever promise to make the water completely safe, which is why we’re using 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 after a shark sighting. Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said seven beaches were closed after 10 sharks were spotted on Saturday alone. Over the 2025/26 summer period, 461 sharks had been spotted during drone operations, Mr Pearce said, with surf lifesavers enacting 170 countermeasures, including beach evacuations, beach siren, drone siren and rescue vessels. Mr Pearce said the agency would also now be able to fly semi-autonomous drones from their head office all around that state. ‘Not a silver bullet’ Ms Moriarty admitted the funding boost would not be a “silver bullet” and that swimmers still needed to heed warnings, including not to swim at dawn or dusk when drones are less effective, or after a storm event. “This is a continuing program that we’re now looking at for the next year and the year after, and we’ll continue to invest in better technology as it comes to fruition,” she said. As for research, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will ramp up tagging of bull sharks, which are more common in Sydney Harbour. The programs join a number already in place, including 305 drumlines at 19 LGAs, 51 shark nets between September 1 and March 31, and 37 existing tagged shark listening stations. Last year, the NSW government moved to trial removing shark nets at a number of Sydney and Central Coast beaches. Scientists warn the nets are ineffective at preventing bites and create a false sense of security.