Additional shark safety equipment will be installed in some of the most iconic beaches in Australia to help protect the safety of swimmers and surfers.
The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced on Wednesday that the Shark Observation Grants Program would deliver an extra five shark-spotting drones, emergency evacuation alarms, and lifeguard training to further improve surveillance at NSW beaches including the most iconic Bondi Beach.
This program is in addition to the state government's 2020/21 Shark Program, which included drone surveillance at key swimming locations, smart drumlines in some local government areas, and VR4G listening stations along the NSW coastline to detect and alert the community to the presence of tagged sharks, a continuation of the Shark Meshing Bather Protection program, and SharkSmart app and community awareness and education programs.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said these additional measures could better protect people from shark attack risks.
"Drones are among the most effective detection and surveillance tools, while evacuation systems and lifeguard training play a critical role in reducing the risk of shark interactions, all forming part of our holistic approach to swimmer safety," he said.
Sharks occur in all the coastal waters and estuarine habitats of Australia. According to the Australian Shark Attack File 2020 report, Australia recorded 26 shark attack cases in 2020, among which NSW recorded eight unprovoked cases including two fatal cases and four injured, the highest among all states and territories.
"Our beautiful beaches are integral to the fabric of our coastal communities, and swimmer safety is of the utmost importance to the NSW government," Marshall said.
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