The shark monitoring drones are part of a $34-million program. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
Drones are everywhere these days, from wars to surf lineups. They have a million uses, and Australia’s New South Wales state state government recently announced it will be using them to hopefully decrease shark attacks in the area.
Under the new program, which will cost around $34 million, the drones will be used to look for sharks swimming near Sydney Beaches and the NSW coastline. Some 70 beaches will be monitored year around in an effort to make them safer for swimmers, surfers, and anyone else in the ocean.
Drones have been used in the past to monitor Australian beaches for sharks, but generally only in select months and at crowded beaches. The move comes after Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old mother, was mauled by a great white while swimming at Coogee Beach.
In addition to the drones, Surf Life Saving NSW is concentrating more on the popular beaches. The drones will roll out on July 1 across all of Sydney’s beaches. As a part of the program, the NSW government will be using AI to help identify potential dangers.
“More drones in the air means we’re getting a better picture of what’s happening offshore and it means we’ll get better at seeing them,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns. “We’re backing practical technology that helps keep families, surfers and swimmers safer right across the coast.”
