NSW Shark Management Program

The NSW Shark Management Program is the largest and most comprehensive program of its kind in the world.

The 2024/25 Shark Management Program includes:

  • 305 SMART drumlines in 19 coastal local government areas (LGA) from Tweed to Bega
  • Nets at 51 beaches across 8 LGAs between Newcastle and Wollongong from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025
  • Surf Life Saving NSW drone patrols at 50 beaches during school holidays with at least one drone in every coastal LGA
  • 37 tagged shark listening stations, with at least one in every coastal LGA
  • Surfing NSW partnership to provide shark mitigation support and services such as trauma kits and drones; and
  • The state-wide SharkSmart community education and awareness campaign, the SharkSmart app, and shark and social research

See the NSW Shark Management Program Map (PDF, 2242.69 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.

Nsw Shark Management Program Mitigation Map 2024-2025

SMART drumlines

‘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 305 SMART drumlines deployed daily (weather dependent) from Tweed Heads to Pambula.

Want to find out more? Further information on SMART drumlines and catch reports is available here.

What are SMART Drumlines?

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Tagged shark listening stations

When a tagged target shark (being a White, Tiger or Bull shark) swims within 500m of a tagged shark listening station, an alert is sent to the public via the SharkSmart App and X.

There are 37 tagged shark listening stations across NSW, with at least one in each Local Government Area (LGA).

Local Government Area

Station Location

Tweed Shire

Kingscliff Beach

Byron Bay

Clarkes Beach

Ballina Shire

Seven Mile / Lennox Head Beach

Lennox Point

Sharpes Beach

Lighthouse Beach

Richmond Valley

Evans Head Beach

Clarence Valley

Yamba Beach

Coffs Harbour

Park Beach

Bellingen Shire

North Beach, Mylestom

Nambucca Heads

Main Beach

Kempsey Shire

Front Beach, South West Rocks

Crescent Head Beach

Port Macquarie

Lighthouse Beach

MidCoast

Old Bar Beach

Forster Beach

Bennetts Beach

Port Stephens

Birubi Beach

Newcastle

Newcastle Beach

Lake Macquarie

Redhead Beach

Central Coast

Soldiers Beach

Avoca Beach

Killcare Beach

Northern Beaches

Palm Beach

North Narrabeen Beach

North Steyne

Waverley

Bondi Beach

Randwick

Maroubra Beach

Sutherland Shire

Cronulla Beach

Wollongong

Stanwell Park

Wollongong Beach

Shellharbour

Shellharbour Beach

Kiama

Surf Beach

Shoalhaven

Cudmirrah Beach, Sussex Inlet

Mollymook Beach

Eurodoballa

Malua Bay

Bega Valley

Merimbula Beach

Surf Life Saving drone surveillance

Shark surveillance drones have been flown by Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) at 50 beaches since December 2021. The program stretches from the far north to far south coast of NSW.

Whilst the program has traditionally operated in the warmer months, the program has been extended in some LGAs to fly in what is traditionally known as the ‘out of season’ months, for example, during winter, 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:

  • Every NSW coastal LGA has at least one shark surveillance drone patrol location during 2024/25.
  • There are 50 drones across the state under this NSW Government-SLSNSW partnership.
  • Further trials are being done looking at long-range flights with larger drones for emergency response and beach safety.

Find out more about drones in Surf Life Saving

UAV Patrol Locations
NSW Surf Life Saving pilots

Surfing NSW partnership

Every surfer in NSW has access to water safety training through Surfing NSW’s Surfers Rescue 24/7 program, and customised medical kits and training have been supplied to more than 120 of their boardrider clubs and 60 surf schools. Drones and pilot training have been delivered to more than 20 clubs, with the rollout and training continuing throughout 2024/25.

Keep up to date with the program through surfingnsw.com.au

See the summary

Shark mitigation measures by local government area