
Coffs Harbour
Deployed – 1 November 2021
Location - between Coffs Harbour and Sawtell Headland
Location of SMART drumlines Coffs Harbour - Sawtell Headland PDF, 230.96 KB
The NSW Government has committed $21.4 million to continue its effective, evidence-based shark mitigation program, with a host of successfully trialled technologies rolled out along the NSW coastline. It has also announced a boost of $4.4 million for a suite of immediate additional mitigation methods, as well as ongoing funding of more than $85 million to continue this program until 2026.
This shark program is the largest and most comprehensive in the world.
The $85.6 million 2022-2026 Shark Mitigation Program will include:
See the NSW Shark Program 2022/23 Map (PDF, 1225.71 KB)
The ongoing program is underpinned by an independent evaluation of the 2015-21 shark management programs undertaken by Cardno. The NSW Shark Management Strategy and Shark Program Review is available here. The NSW Government Response to the review is available here.
‘SMART’ stands for Shark-Management-Alert-In-Real Time. This technology is designed to intercept sharks that come close to shore to help make our beaches safer.
SMART drumlines have proven to be the most effective tool for catching target sharks, minimising the catch of non-target animals, and maximising the survival of all animals caught on the gear.
There are currently over 300 SMART drumlines deployed daily (weather dependent) from Tweed Heads to Pambula.
Intercepting sharks that come close to shore to help make our beaches safer.
In 2022, the number of drone locations increased from 34 to 50 to include popular tourist destinations on the far north and far south coasts of NSW and in the Greater Sydney region.
For the first time in the Program, Surf Life Saving NSW will fly drones over the July 2022 winter school holidays at selected locations. Whilst the program has traditionally operated in the warmer months, the program has been extended to fly in what is traditionally known as the ‘out of season’ months, in order to offer increased protection at a time when many juvenile White Sharks are migrating north along the NSW coastline.
Key points of this program:
Find out more about drones/UAVs in Surf Life Saving
Every surfer in NSW will have access to first-aid training through Surfing NSW’s Surfers Rescue 24/7 program, while customised medical kits and training will be supplied to more than 110 NSW boardrider clubs and 55 surf schools.
A fleet of approximately 20 drones will also be used by Surfing NSW to patrol their events, in addition to our world-leading fleet of shark-spotting drones already delivered by Surf Life Saving NSW.
Keep up to date with the program through surfingnsw.com.au
See the summary