NSW to get new shark listening stations
New shark listening stations are to be installed on the NSW coastline before summer.
Five new VR4G shark listening stations will be in the water before summer on the NSW south coast at Kiama, Sussex Inlet, Mollymook, Batemans Bay and Merimbula. A further five will be installed further up the coast at Crescent Head, Old Bar, Hawks Nest, Redhead and Bondi. Coastal engineering and local surf clubs will determine the exact coordinates of the listening stations.
If a previously-tagged shark swims within 500 metres of the purpose-built stations, an alert is sent to @NSWSharkSmart on Twitter and the NSW Government Shark Smart app.
To date, shark biologists from the Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO have tagged 29 sharks and 88 bull sharks.
NSW Minister for Primary Industries Lands and Water Niall Blair said that the listening stations would give beachgoers better information and help to prevent shark attacks.
“Listening stations provide real time information of sharks’ movements means people can make informed decisions before getting in to the water,” Mr Blair said.
Ten shark listening stations are already running between Tweed Heads and Forster.
Read more about NSW shark management.