Australia’s beaches draw an estimated 300 million visits each year, making coastal safety a major public concern, especially amid rising shark encounters. On average, the country sees about 15 shark attacks annually, with one to two resulting in fatalities. Alarmingly, 2020 recorded seven fatal attacks, the highest toll in nearly a century. Experts believe the increased frequency of shark incidents is linked to climate change, which warms ocean waters and alters shark migration patterns, bringing them closer to shore. Additionally, more people are participating in water sports, and shifts in prey distribution are drawing sharks into nearshore habitats.

Over the years, Australia has implemented several programs to prevent shark attacks. Shark nets and drumlines have been part of the country’s coastal safety measures for decades, first introduced in New South Wales in the 1930s and later in Queensland in the 1960s. Shark nets are large mesh barriers set offshore, generally around 150 meters long, designed not to enclose beaches but to catch and kill sharks as they swim near popular swimming areas. Drumlines, on the other hand, consist of baited hooks suspended from floating buoys, strategically placed to lure and capture potentially dangerous sharks.

Additionally, aerial observations by small airplanes and helicopters have long been used to report shark sightings to lifeguards. When high numbers of sharks are observed, beaches are often closed. With advancements in drone technology, Australia’s lifeguards have become pioneers in using drones to track and monitor sharks as they approach nearshore regions. Australia’s Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett, recently announced that the government would invest $88.228 million into a new Shark Control Management Plan over the next four years.

Mr. Perrett said the plan would continue using proven measures such as shark nets and drumlines, increase the use of new drone technology, and ensure these measures are implemented year-round, weather permitting. For many, this comes as good news, knowing that the government is willing to invest significantly to protect swimmers. For others, like Jonathan Clark, some aspects of the plan are deeply concerning and potentially illegal.

Jonathan Clark is the Queensland Coordinator for Sea Shepherd Australia’s Shark Defence Campaign, where he leads efforts to protect sharks and promote non-lethal alternatives to traditional control methods. Sea Shepherd Australia, established in 2007 as part of the global Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, is a nonprofit marine conservation organization known for its direct action approach to defending ocean wildlife.

The group actively campaigns against the use of shark nets and drumlines, arguing that these measures are outdated, ineffective, and harmful to marine species such as dolphins, turtles, and rays. Mr. Clark points out that under Section 43B(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, placing more shark nets and drumlines could be illegal. He strongly believes such practices should be phased out and removed altogether, as they not only endanger wildlife but also fail to adequately keep beaches safe.

Instead, Mr. Clark encourages Mr. Perrett to enhance the use of drones and other marine-safe technologies to protect Australia’s beaches. “We applaud the use of drones and any expansion in the use of drones because they do make beaches safer,” he said. “The data show us that they see a lot more sharks with the drones than they catch in shark nets.” Fortunately, drones will play a key role in the new Shark Control Management Plan.

The drones will be operated by Surf Life Saving Queensland, whose trained pilots hold Remote Pilot Licences and follow Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations. They will be deployed at multiple beaches along the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Cooloola Coast, as well as on North Stradbroke Island, Magnetic Island, and Bribie Island. Pilots will conduct regular flights, typically beginning in the morning and flying twice every hour until midday, to detect sharks and gather data on their movements and behavior. If a potentially dangerous shark is spotted, the drone will track it at a lower altitude, and lifesavers may evacuate the water and temporarily close the beach if needed.

Though Mr. Perrett supports some controversial shark management techniques, the drone initiative reflects a growing shift toward non-lethal mitigation strategies aimed at protecting both swimmers and marine life. “We’re striking the right balance between ensuring swimmer safety and maintaining a healthy marine environment,” Mr. Perrett said, “as well as upholding Queensland’s international tourism reputation as a safe place to enjoy some of the best beaches in the world.”

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