NSW SMART drumlines trials proved to be a success

Press Release

Adam Marshall
Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Western NSW

12. May 2019

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SHARKS HOOKED ON SMART DRUMLINES

The NSW Government’s SMART drumlines trials have proved a success withthe devices snagging scores of sharks at beaches across Sydney, Newcastle and the South and North Coast.

Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall today said the SMART (Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time) drumline trials helped reduce the risk of shark incidents at NSW beaches.

“We have had some great results from SMART drumlines along our NSW coastline this summer,which has helped us learn more about shark movements and the effectiveness of this technology,” Mr Marshall said.

“NSW is leading the world in trials of SMARTdrumlines.These innovative devices allow target sharks to be caught, tagged and released out at sea, with experts then tracking their movements and alerting authorities when a shark is near.

“In Sydney alone we managed to intercept 14 sharks over a 90 day period, while on the South Coast 16 species were caught including 6 White and 5 tiger Sharks.

“The beauty of this technology is that it not only prevents shark encounters but also allows scientists to monitor the tagged sharks and learn more about their behaviour.

“After the shark is tagged, they are relocated and released approximately 1km offshore. Our shark tagging program is now estimated to be the largest in the world.

“SMART drumlines complement the shark nets that are in place at Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle beaches from 1 September to 30 April each year.”

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will now analyse the results of the trials before making an informed decision about next steps. The SMART Drumline trials are part of the NSW Government’s $16 million Shark Management Strategy. Other shark mitigation measures include aerial surveillance, tagging and shark meshing. The SMART Drumline trial on the North Coast is ongoing.

Source: NSW Government

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