Drone surveillance will extend to more beaches for longer this summer following a multimillion-dollar effort to reduce shark interactions with swimmers and surfers.
The announcement came from the NSW Government on Sunday, 7 December 2025, and follows two recent shark attack deaths in the State. One being Dee Why local Mercury Psillakis, who lost his life to a great white attack at Dee Why Beach in September.
His twin brother, Mike, and his wife, Maria, have since strongly advocated alongside Long Reef Boardriders for the government to bring in more comprehensive shark mitigation tactics to avoid a repeat tragedy. The $2.5 million investment will contribute to the state’s existing $21.4 million annual Shark Management Program.
Longy Boardriders said the “initiative not only supports safer surfing for everyone but also honours the legacy of Mercury Psillakis, a much-loved member of our Northern Beaches surf community.”
The funding extends Surf Life Saving (SLS) NSW drone surveillance this summer to every day until the end of January, and then on weekends until the end of March. Currently, the program is only active from December to January at 50 beaches, including Palm Beach, South Narrabeen and Dee Why.
It is also active on the Northern Beaches for about two weeks in September to October and April. The changes are set to roll out locally this weekend, along with 31 other beaches in the State; By 20 December, the extension will be active on 50 beaches.
NSW Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, said she spoke with Maria and Mike about the importance of increasing protection for board riders.
“This is why the Minns Government is now increasing funding for Surfing NSW so they can roll out a comprehensive drone and training program for their many clubs between Newcastle and Wollongong, as a significant contribution to honouring his legacy,” she said.
The SharkSmart drones funded by the State Government are operated by Surf Life Saving NSW (SLS NSW) with their CEO Steve Pearce welcoming the enhancement to their partnership.
“Last summer alone, 50 Surf Life Saving NSW drones flying from Tweed to Bega completed 18027 flights over 4897 flying hours. During that time, 815 sharks were sighted, including 41 bull sharks, 45 white sharks and 729 unknown sharks,” Pearce said.
“Our lifeguards and lifesavers enacted 115 countermeasures, including 88 beach evacuations, plus other countermeasures, including beach siren, drone siren, and IRB/RWC.”
The Government will be partnering with Surfing NSW to roll out drones and training to boardrider clubs between Newcastle and Wollongong, for local surfers and surf events. A pop-up SharkSmart van and the trailer will also travel up and down the coast for information and support sessions to beachgoers.
Unpatrolled beaches are also set to get a little safer as the funding will roll out 150 Community Shark Bite Kits to be placed at beaches outside of metropolitan areas. The kits contain a tourniquet, compression bandages, dressings, a thermal blanket, whistle, gloves and first aid instructions for a serious bite injury.
Calls for mitigation in less patrolled areas were made after a Swiss tourist died and her partner was seriously injured from a shark attack at a remote NSW beach late last month.
The Shark bite kits will not be provided to the Northern Beaches, however, Council said not to fret as they have the resources already on hand.
“Northern Beaches Council Lifeguards have shark bite kits and other equipment available at all patrolled beaches when they are on duty and continue to work with Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers to help keep people safe,” a Northern Beaches Council representative told Manly Observer.
Aside from drone surveillance and education programs, the State’s Shark Management Program has other – some controversial – shark mitigation tactics already in play. There are currently 305 SMART drumlines in 19 LGAs all year round and shark nets at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong deployed from 1 September to 31 March.
There are also tagged sharks that ping the SharkSmart app anytime it is detected by one of the 37 shark listening stations.
