More shark drones welcomed but the NSW Government is still ignoring the science on shark nets

SYDNEY (June 28, 2026)—The NSW Government’s announcement today of year-round and early morning drone coverage is excellent news for beach safety but as New South Wales residents seek answers to reduce shark bite risk, the government has signaled no intent to stop wasting taxpayer money on shark nets, which entangle animals and attract sharks nearer shore.

Nicola Benyon of Humane World for Animals Australia Avalon beach 

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced today a $34 million investment in the state’s shark monitoring program that will see year-round drone monitoring at more than 70 beaches with patrols beginning earlier in the day.

“This expansion of drone surveillance across Sydney’s beaches is fantastic news for ocean-goers,” said Humane World for Animals Australia (previously known as Humane Society International Australia)’s marine biologist, Lawrence Chlebeck. “Drones represent the best way to keep an eye out and patrols commencing earlier will make a big difference to reducing the risk of shark bites.”

While comprehensive drone coverage marks great progress for public safety in Sydney’s beaches, Mr Chlebeck said shark nets remain a stain on the state’s government’s approach to shark management.

“The public needs all of the Government’s shark bite risk strategies to be based on science,” said Mr Chlebeck. “But the Government’s continued trust in outdated shark nets is misplaced and undermines the strategy. All the shark nets do is entangle animals, which attracts sharks nearer to shore. If you want to improve shark safety, the worst thing you can do is kill animals and leave them to rot next to our beaches. We’ve seen photo after photo of carcasses pulled from shark nets with large bites taken from them. The nets are detrimental to public safety.”

Fast facts on shark nets: 

• Shark nets are deployed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong each summer, with the program dating back to 1937.

• Shark nets are not barriers. Very different to the shark enclosures at harbour beaches, the shark nets at issue are 150 metre-long fishing nets installed 500 metres off ocean beaches designed to ensnare sharks.

• 37 bites have occurred at beaches with shark nets. The last three shark incidents on Sydney’s Northern Beaches all occurred in the vicinity of shark nets.

• 90% of animals caught in shark nets are not target shark species and includes Critically Endangered wildlife.

• Shark nets do not reduce the risk of shark bite. Sharks can easily swim around them and in fact, 40% of sharks caught in them are caught on the beach side of the net.

Humane World for Animals Australia supports a modern, non-lethal approach to shark bite risk mitigation.