SHARK STOP
DRONE SCIENCE
The science that's keeping ocean users safe.
Drones have emerged as an invaluable beach safety and shark surveillance tool for government agencies across Australia over the past decade. By providing a high-definition, real-time aerial viewpoint, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) allow lifesavers to monitor vast expanses of the ocean with nil or negligible impact on marine life or the environment.
Despite these advancements, one huge technical leap forward remains largely unsolved: autonomous flights and shark spotting.
The following data is derived from tens of thousands of manual flights in the Queensland SharkSmart Drone Trial (2020–2024) conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), and the NSW Shark Management Program managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
KEY EVIDENCE AND FINDINGS
Long-term trials have quantified the efficacy of drones in coastal environments, showing they are often more effective at detecting wildlife, than traditional methods are of catching wildlife:
Higher Sighting Rates: During the four-year Queensland trial across 10 locations, drones recorded 676 shark sighting events, which was significantly higher than the 284 sharks caught in adjacent nets and drumlines over the same period.
Broad Detection Capability: In the NSW Shark Management Program 2024/25, drone patrols have expanded to over 50 beaches, spotting hundreds of sharks and triggering evacuations only when a direct threat to water users is identified.
Operational Reliability: Contrary to the misconception that drones are easily grounded, the QLD SharkSmart Drone Trial found that only 5% of scheduled flights were cancelled due to weather, proving they can operate effectively in most standard coastal conditions. In conditions where they cannot fly (rain or strong winds), beach patronage is also generally much lower.
Zero Interactions During Active Drone Deployment: Peer-reviewed research published in 2024 found that although shark-human interactions continued to occur at beaches with tagged-shark listening stations, there were no interactions while SMART drumlines and/or drones were deployed.
Non-Lethal and Multi-Purpose: Drones have a negligible environmental impact compared to shark nets, which captured 123 non-target animals (such as turtles and dolphins) at the trial beaches. Additionally, drones assist in spotting rips and aiding in search-and-rescue operations.
THE COMPARATIVE GAP: DRONES VS TRADITIONAL GEAR
During the Queensland Government’s Shark Control Program (SCP) drone trial, the results were clear. Drones recorded 676 shark sighting events, compared to 284 sharks caught in adjacent SCP nets and drumlines over the same period.
What makes this more compelling is exposure time. Drones were airborne for just 2.9% of the time nets were deployed, and 5.1% of the time drumlines were active, yet still detected more than double the number of sharks.
At key locations, the contrast is even stronger:
North Stradbroke Island: 314 drone sightings vs 32 SCP catches
Burleigh Beach: 168 drone sightings vs 24 SCP catches
In a handful of locations, such as Alexandra Headland and Southport Main Beach, research noted that traditional gear (nets and drumlines) occasionally "caught" more sharks than drones "spotted." Scientific analysis suggests this is not due to a failure in drone visibility, but rather a difference in operational windows:
Continuous vs. Periodic: Nets and drumlines remain in the water 24/7.
Limited Flight Windows: During the trials, manual drone flights were typically restricted to specific morning windows (e.g., 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM) on weekends and holidays.
Because sharks are highly mobile, traditional gear has a statistical advantage simply by being "always on." This discrepancy highlights a clear opportunity: as flight times increase, most scalable and easily achieved with the assistance of automation, the gap in detection significantly narrows.
tHE ROLE OF AUTOMATION AND AI
The current limitations of manual flight, namely pilot training and professional development, and fatigue, are being addressed through the
integration of Autonomous Flight and Computer Vision (AI).
AI Consistency: NSW DPI research into AI detection software aims to provide a reliable, second set of "eyes" to assist pilots, reducing the risk of human error caused by glare or fatigue.
Tangible Value at Scale: Moving toward autonomous, "drone-in-a-box" solutions allows for more frequent and longer patrols. By removing the need for a manual pilot for every minute of flight, agencies can achieve the "always-on" presence currently offered by other passive fishing measures, providing a more effective, non-lethal safety tool.
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