Shark drones not flying every day as projected
An examination of SharkSmart App data shows that drones are not flying every day on the Northern Beaches.
According to the data there were days when no drones were operating at specific beaches, such as five days between 9 and 15 August at Palm Beach, and 11 days between 6 July and 17 August at Collaroy Beach.
This is despite the fact that from 1 July, the NSW Government allocated funding for at least one drone at every ocean beach from Palm Beach to Cronulla in the Sydney Zone, 365-days a year, dawn to dusk.
According to Surf Life Saving NSW (SLS), in the program’s first month, their drones completed over 25,000 flights and recorded over 600 shark sightings, leading to 200 countermeasures, such as beach closures and alerting people in the water.
Data from SharkSmart suggests at least 30 drone sightings were reported on the Northern Beaches from 1 July to 18 August.
SLS NSW said on social media recently that drone surveillance was helping spot sharks earlier. It was clear drones were working, but with gaps in the service, it was not clear if there were enough pilots to operate the drones or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).
SLS CEO Steven Pearce said on a Boardsox podcast on 13 August that there were 350 to 400 pilots flying about 200 drones.
Mr Pearce said the SLS was doing a ‘massive recruitment campaign’ for pilots, as a lot more were needed, as the drone program expansion would see half a million flights over 12 months.
A SLSNSW spokesperson confirmed that the organisation was ‘actively recruiting for UAV pilots across the state to service the NSW Government’s uplifted Shark Management Program.’
“In total, 96 locations are covered by the $48 million investment in shark surveillance by the NSW Government,” a SLSNSW spokesperson told PL. “Pilots are trained through a comprehensive two-day course.”
Tracey Hare-Boyd, CEO of Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches, said that 10 of 21 local surf life saving clubs had their own drones, and that within five years it might become a piece of equipment that every club would need for patrol.
Ms Hare-Boyd said the weather could affect drone surveillance operations. “Some of the smaller ones can’t fly in the rain,” Ms Hare-Boyd told PL. Some of the larger ones can fly in a drizzle, but not a downpour. It also depends on the wind; if it’s really gusty or there’s a high wind, we can’t fly them.”
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby acknowledged there were gaps in drone surveillance operations.
“There are gaps and I’m working with stakeholders to resolve them, improve communication, adapt to the new normal and ensure we get value for money from the $85 million investment in the shark program,” Ms Scruby told PL.
“Every person should be able to go to the beach and know whether a drone is up, when it last flew over, and whether and when a shark was spotted,” Ms Scruby said. “I’m also advocating for an advisory group to ensure gaps are reported and addressed, as well as better communication and education for the public.”
Ms Scruby said drone footage should be used to build a systematic evidence base on shark numbers and behaviour, alongside data collected by surfers, fishers, and other ocean users.
The expanded program also includes the trial of at least two new artificial intelligence systems over summer, harnessing automation to improve shark detection, with the ambition of making new technologies standard practice at beaches. It will also work towards introducing more autonomous drone operations.
Funding for SLSNSW aimed to allow them to upgrade their remote pilot and operating facilities, support deployment of new technology, and pave the way for a future of daily, automated flights from surf club rooftops and other purpose-built infrastructure.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries was contacted but had not responded in time for print.
For more information on training as a paid or volunteer drone pilot, search for ‘Become a UAV pilot NSW.’
