Sydney’s beaches enter the drone age to get swimmers back in the water after spate of shark attacks
New South Wales has expanded its drone surveillance program to 70 beaches to monitor for sharks following a series of high-profile attacks. The technology allows for real-time observation of coastal waters, aiming to restore public confidence in swimming safety.
Why it matters
The integration of drone technology into public safety measures represents a modern approach to mitigating environmental risks in recreational areas.
A drone operator brings one into land on Coogee beach. A drone operator brings one into land on Coogee beach. Sharks Sydney’s beaches enter the drone age to get swimmers back in the water after spate of shark attacks Seventy beaches across New South Wales are part of the $34m dawn-to-dusk drone monitoring program, which one expert has called ‘the best technology we have at the moment’
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Penry Buckley Tue 1 Sep 2026 12.00 EDT Last modified on Tue 1 Sep 2026 12.11 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google “Hey Taha, what’s the visibility like?” shouts a man with a towel slung over his shoulder.
“Uh, nice,” says Surf Life Saving New South Wales drone operator Taha Kafil-Hussain.
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