The New South Wales government has announced a $34 million expansion of its shark-spotting drone program, increasing coverage to 72 beaches across the state. The drones will operate 365 days a year, according to official statements.
The program aims to enhance beach safety by using drones equipped with cameras to detect sharks near swimmers. The government has expressed hope that the system could eventually incorporate artificial intelligence to automate shark detection, reducing reliance on human operators.
This expansion builds on previous trials that have shown drones to be effective in spotting sharks from the air. The funding will cover the deployment of additional drones and support staff for the monitoring operations.
Officials have not yet provided a specific timeline for the AI integration, but the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve coastal safety in NSW, which has experienced several shark incidents in recent years.
