Drones, sonar, and nets: NSW announce multi-pronged shark strategy
Yesterday, the New South Wales Government announced it will spend $16 million to help prevent shark attacks on the state's coastline. The announcement followed a round table meeting last month held in reponse to a series of attacks and sightings.
Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said there would be a mixed approach. "The NSW coast has over 2,000 kilometres of beach line and we know that what may work in Bega may not work in Ballina," he said.
The plan includes the use of increased surveillance, shark-detecting drones, the Clever Buoy sonar system to track shark movements, and an app that can be used to track them in real-time.
Mr Blair said the five-year strategy was a world first. "We are leading the world in New South Wales when it comes to how we interact with sharks and how we've utilised a range of technologies to reduce that risk for our beachgoers."
There have been 13 shark attacks, including a fatality, in New South Wales so far this year, and shark activity has been particularly high along the New South Wales north coast.
The Minister said some of the strategies will be specific to that area to restore confidence in the tourism industry. "People have been shying away from going into the beach. We want to bring that confidence back to those areas."
There will be $7.7 million set aside for trials of new technologies and aerial and coastal surveillance, including up to $3.5 million for aerial helicopter surveillance to provide early warning to bathers and assist shark tagging operations. The NSW Government will also invest in 20, 4G listening stations. Ten stations will be positioned between Tweed Heads and Forster, with the rest to be positioned at known shark attack locations. The data will eventually be made available to provide details of tagged shark locations via the SharkSmart app in real time.
These measures will be complemented by six barrier net trials and five ‘clever buoy’ in-water sonar technology trials. The North Coast has been identified as a priority trial site for two barrier nets.
Another $7 million will be set aside for additional research into how to keep our beaches safe from sharks in their natural environment, and the expansion of the shark tagging program currently underway on the state’s North Coast. A further $1.3 million will be set aside to educate the community to be shark smart and build on the popular SharkSmart mobile app.
Mr Blair said the government would continue to work with scientists to find solutions. "We don't cull sharks in New South Wales," he said. "That's why we've gone for a look into some of the new technologies and other suites of measures we can implement and that's what this response is about. It's been led by our scientists."
Comments
ha ha..dont cull sharks?….Dont they have long lines?
I know they sure have shark nets that kill all kinds of sharks and other marine life including many harmless sharks and turtles, dolphins, rays and even whales have died in their nets.
Check this out for the list killed by nets in NSW in the 2013-14 https://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/3/i/v/t/1/image.related.articl…
Of the 145 different animals caught (assume dead) in nets less than 20 appear to be sharks that kill/bite humans. (whites, tigers, bull sharks/bronze whalers)
Interestingly the press release for the Govt includes this line:
"An independent report into shark technologies also recommended the adoption of smart drum lines, which will be considered in consultation with local communities."
Just how 'smart' are these drum lines? Cos if they begin using them they're stance about culling begins to look even more questionable.
There is always something refreshing about all that sea-life in NNsw. SEQ always feels so sterile, I guess I'll be sad to see it go.
Probably not worth the safety cost however, especially if the nets are less lethal than current implementations.
It Is a step forward
The $7 million towards additional research is the fantastic, IMO they should have given the whole $16 to CSIRO.
I'd love to know more details about the barrier net trials.. I agree with indo-dreaming that hopefully this isn't just the stock standard nets they've used elsewehere. Why not trial some of the newer barrier technologies instead of netting? underwater pipes with air bubbles, kelp barriers etc.
Yeah, the info seems kinda vague about the barrier nets. I'll find out what I can.
"We don't cull sharks in New South Wales," he said"
Thats obviously a crock of shitt and designed to quell the enormous community sentiment amongst (inner city) green voters against killing of sharks, despite the fact that when those same people go swimming they are protected by nets which randomly kill sharks and other marine animals.
Intelligent drum lines are being used in Reunion.....they are killing bull sharks there and releasing other species, they say that for implementation here they would release/relocate sharks caught unharmed.
To me this is a tacit way of appeasing those calling for a cull.
Inner city green voters , are a very small political group , and it seems like you seem to be stereotyping people who think culling a protected species is wrong , based on the scientific eveidence so far.
the need to appease those calling for a cull , using the Reunion Island example , seems pretty far fetched as 2 different eco systems , 2 different species of sharks , have you asked your council or Ballina 's why they have a policy of burying whales on their beaches , and not take them away?
I saw Mike Baird out there recently. Didn't see him doing much, looked like someone had bailed him up for a political discussion! But he was on a shortish board and looked like he would at least be more competent than our recent ex-PM. Self-interest might be part of it.
You're kidding me...? "Surveillance"... "4G" transmitters. Gotta love that microwave exposure right?? Is the Government listening in on everything these days? Be careful, you wouldn't want to get too "radical" in the surf..
1.5m for netting Sth Sydney to Newcastle. 1 fatal attack since 1937. Qld no fatal attacks at beaches that are netted and DRUM LINED.
Surf lifesaver are going to need CASA certification for flying commercial drones.
Sharks need to be tagged for those stations to work. pfffft.
Spend the 14.5m on more netting and counter balance this loss of wildlife with long liners fishing licence buy outs. More tuna and marlin for me to play with as well yes I have a vested interest as a rec fisho.
The trial 'eco netting' is ocean floor to water level if is this correct how big and expensive are they going to be to put in place and maintain.
I personally like the kelp imitation barrier with good data so far on it's effectiveness. (white shark won't swim thru even with a baited tuna on the other side) look like far less cost to install and maintain When asked how much the inventors reply was 'same as existing netting' what a smart man!
For anyone interested here's a link to a story I wrote back in early 2014, around the time that WA was wrestling with the shark attack issue. This story focuses on the east coast of Australia and the programs put in place by the NSW and Qld governments; it also includes the story of Mark Butler's attack at Brooms Head in 2001 (as told by Mark) and refers to a few other incidents around the Yamba area. Go to page 31 of the online magazine: https://issuu.com/clarencescene/docs/one_file_binder1
Beach goers (tourists) may actually end up more freaked out with all the new tracking systems and data telling them that sharks are about. I don't think it will reduce attacks much and will have everyone in the water more aware than ever that a big shark is, or was recently, within a short swim of the beach they are going to. For decades I somewhat purposefully viewed sharks as most likely further out to sea and unlikely to find my beaches of interest. Not so sure now with all the new info and internet chat.
Monitored tagged sharks and SMS warnings will be the nail in the coffin of this type of "blissful ignorace" for many thousands of beach goers. This, plus the likely slow and steady rise in interactions and attacks as GW populations grow and are trained by cage diving to associate humans with food and blood, may lead to the opposite of any calming of the fear factor among tourists and surfers.
Good point about being more informed and fears being heightened. Plenty of analogies of that.
Those barrier nets look like a disaster for land-based gamefishing, hey Freeride?
Unless they put them out soon and trap a few pelagics.
Mind you I don't think they'll last all that long in a big southerly swell.
Could be interesting times trying to install them in a marine park, too...
"Boo, ashamed to say I haven't really looked at it properly yet but yeah, you'd think it would be a disaster for longtail tuna, but then I've seen plenty of schools of tuna busting up just in the surf-line on the Goldy.
Nochaser - just an observation.
Who do you think might be next 'target' for greens after forestry and commercial fishing have been reduced to a hatful of operations.
Both , in my view are extractive industries that if managed properly at least leave the environment in a similar condition (unlike farming). Do you think people who oppose culling of sharks that kill people aren't going to move onto a sector that encourages people and kids to catch and release animals after wearing them out?
Next time you walk into tackle shop, look at the walls of the soft plastic lures - how much longer do you think the loss of all those bits and pieces is going to go unnoticed. List goes on - haven't even mentioned the low hanging fruit.
Apologies for the digression.