NSW Commits $4.2M To Expand Shark Safety Measures This Summer

After a confronting summer in Sydney, the state government is pledging to put some serious weight behind shark safety, announcing a $4.2 million boost that will expand drone surveillance, deepen real-time research and sharpen the way communities are warned about higher-risk conditions in the water.

The funding lands amid heightened concern following a cluster of recent shark incidents, many of which occurred after storms and heavy rainfall‚ all conditions that unfortunately, are known to increase shark activity, particularly for bull sharks in estuaries and harbours.

A major part of the investment is harbour-focused research, aimed at building a clearer picture of where bull sharks are and when risk levels spike. Led by shark scientists at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), the work will involve tagging and monitoring sharks in Sydney Harbour and other shared spaces filled with swimmers and surfers.

New shark listening stations will also be installed in the harbour, allowing tagged sharks to be detected faster and alerts issued sooner.

At the same time, Surf Life Saving NSW is significantly expanding its drone surveillance program. From January 24, drone patrols will roll out across an additional 30 beaches—19 in Sydney and 11 regional locations—with flights operating seven days a week through to the end of the April school holidays. That’s on top of the existing network that already covers up to 50 beaches during peak periods.

Naturally, education is the other pillar of the package. The government will expand its SharkSmart campaign with updated signage (which has been called on by locals), more social media alerts, an additional mobile education van, and clearer community warnings during periods of elevated risk—particularly after heavy rainfall.

These new measures sit alongside the NSW Government’s broader 2025/26 Shark Management Program, which includes SMART drumlines across 19 local government areas, seasonal shark nets at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong, and a statewide network of shark listening stations. An additional $2.5 million announced in December also brought forward drone operations, expanded weekend coverage and increased funding for community shark bite kits in regional areas.

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Image credit: Sophie Peng